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I felt proud, knowing that Vespyr wasn’t mad at me for what I’ve done.

She knew better than to let our parents take away our right to decide, and she was standing up for herself. And for me.

“I don’t think I have to list everything Papa told me about the things he heard you two do. It’s disgusting, and I didn’t raise you like this!”

Mama was furious, while Papa just sat there without saying a word.

Vespyr got up from her chair and slammed her napkin next to her plate, then she pointed at Mama. “You don’t get to choose who I love. And neither do you!” she cried, now pointing at Papa.

“I don’t care what you think, and I don’t care if you make me go to therapy. Nothing’s going to change the way I feel about him!”

She took off running, heading straight to her bedroom and I didn’t hesitate one second to get up myself and follow her.

“Hey!” Mama shouted, her chair scratching the floor as she pushed it back to come after us.

Once I was in Vespyr’s room with her, I closed the door and locked ourselves inside, and seconds later, Mama was banging on the door.

“Open the door, Fennec!”

A book flew past my head, hitting the door and falling open on the floor next to my feet.

“Leave us alone!” Vespyr screamed, and when I was sure Mama had stepped away from the door, I turned and pulled Ves into my arms to hold her tight.

I brushed along her hair, trying to calm her and silently show her that I supported her.

I kissed the top of her head and let her cry into my sweater, giving her the time she needed.

“I love you,” I whispered against her hair, needing her to hear it before her mind told her other things.

“We’ll be okay. They don’t understand, but we do. And that’s the only thing I care about. I’m right here, sweet girl.”

I held her in my arms for a while until I picked her up to lay her down on her bed.

She immediately cuddled up to me when I sat down next to her, and after pulling up the covers, I put my arms around her body again.

“It’ll be okay,” I whispered. “It’s you and me, sweet girl. Forever.”

*

Vespyr had fallen asleep in my arms while her tears wouldn’t stop falling.

Talking to her while she was so upset wasn’t a good idea, so I let her be and hoped that when she woke up, we could talk this out and make her feel better.

I was leaned back against the pillows with her laying on me between my legs, and I caressed her back to soothe her so she’d have a calm sleep.

Despite all the things Mama had thrown our way, she didn’t come knock on the door again.

I heard them talk in the kitchen, but other than murmurs, there wasn’t much I understood.

Better that way, because I was still mad.

Lashing out at them wasn’t a good idea either, and seeing Vespyr do it made me rethink what Mama had said to me.

I’ve always known I needed help, but accepting it was never an option.

I still didn’t want to agree with her, but it was the voices holding me back.

There were so many things on my mind, contradicting my own thoughts and words, and making everything worse one second, and all better the next.

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