Parent Helpline [ ✓ ]

1 0 : 3 2 a m

LEGEND:
Declan - bold
Grayson - italics

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"Hello, this is..."

"Hello, Dec."

"Oh – hey, Gray. How are you?"

"Fine. Except for my splitting headache, I'm good."

"Hmm [slight laugh]. I thought you were at school?"

"I am. It's break time."

"[Teasing] And you just can't resist the urge to call oh-so-attractive me, right?"

"Bitch."

"Jerk."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"So... Gray, if you don't mind me asking... how's your mom?"

"[Sigh] I wish she'd tell me, Dec. But she doesn't say anything. I think she thinks I didn't know. When I saw them... they were alone in their room, arguing. Gran was out. My brother was downstairs, doing homework or something. And I was just walking by. Then... he slapped her. Or hit her. Either way, I heard it. I stopped, but he saw me. So I ran down to the basement, and... you know."

"Do you see any marks on her?"

"No... not really. It's winter, so she wears long-sleeved stuff, and I can't see anything on her face."

"... Maybe it's makeup."

"... Maybe it is."

"... What about your, um, dad?"

"Gone. Hasn't been home since. Don't know where he is. Don't care where he is."

"Fair enough."

"..."

"..."

"... Dec, I'm scared. What if it happens again? Mom's not gonna say anything. And nobody knows except for me. But what can I do?"

"If it happens again, Gray, call me. I'll call the police. Okay? This shouldn't be happening to your mom. It's wrong. Domestic violence should never be tolerated. So if it happens again, just call me. Alright?"

"... Okay. I will. [Pause] Thank you, Declan."

"Don't mention it."

[Click.]