Family

FOURTEEN

Tears are the silent language of grief

Present || Leonardo

My body felt tired.

It felt heavy.

It was all the energy had been taken away from me, my limbs ached with a familiar pain, my body begged me to go back to sleep. I wish I could sleep forever but of course, life had other plans for me.

A yawn escaped my lips as my eyes peeled open after what had felt like days. To my surprise, I had only been sleeping for over an hour. It was almost half eight and I still hadn't eaten.

How can you think of food at a time like this?

My eyes widened upon remembering what happened and I bolted from whoever's bed I was in, towards the door before a cold voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Leonardo."

His voice made me instantly freeze. I didn't turn around, not when his footsteps came towards me, not even when I could feel the powerful aura radiating off him just a few feet behind me.

"Turn around." He coldly instructed.

Not wanting to get him angry, I slowly turned around and kept my gaze trained on my socks. I forgot that I put on a fluffy white pair. They're so cozy and-

"Look at me."

Yeah he's definitely angry.

My eyes met the cold, narrowed grey eyes of my father. His face, as though sculpted by a God, was as emotionless as ever, even his voice was monotone when needed. Everything about my father made me want to run the other way.

Of course, running isn't an option.

Father didn't say anything for a few minutes. We just stood there. Each examining the other. My eyes drifted along his figure, taking in the bulkiness of his body, his suit jacket was missing, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. 

My eyes stilled upon seeing the ring on his finger. The very ring he used to permanently scar my face with. I wonder, if he knew what he had done to me, would things change?

Would he start loving me and feeling sorry?

The idea alone sounded stupid. My father would never love me. He would never show me the love he shows my brothers'. They all get along so well. The perfect family.

They'd be happy as long as I wasn't here.

A calloused hand reached out to touch me. His silver ring gleaming, almost teasing me. My body shuddered at the memory and I limped backwards.

I don't want to get hit again.

It hurts.

Something flickered in my father's eyes but it was gone as quick as it came.

"The twins," He started," They're fine, a little bruised but they'll be fine. It wasn't your fault."

My lips parted in shock at his words, he was trying to comfort me? Wait, was it him who picked me up?

It couldn't have been.

I tried to read his expression, to see what he was planning but my father's face remained stoic. He glanced at his watch before nodding towards his door.

"We're going out for dinner, grab your shoes."

I slowly shook my head at his words. 

"I-I don't f-feel well." Curse my stuttering.

Father's eyes narrowed, almost as if he knew I was just making up an excuse not to go. He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled a deep breath.

"We're going out for dinner Leonardo. I doubt you've eaten and you're getting paler and paler with every passing day. I'll have to track your meals from now on." He sighed.