The Abused and The Hurt//Camren//(COMPLETED)#Wattys2019

About Her

Lauren's POV
*next morning*

I woke to a dull grey sky outside. The window was sprinkled with water droplets as the slid down to the bottom of the frame. I didn't think it was gonna rain, then again, I no longer had a TV to check the weather and my phone starting losing service since I haven't paid the bill yet.

I looked next to me and saw my youngest sibling sleeping peacefully besides me. This was always a different, yet heartbreaking thing for me to see. When she's asleep she seems like another average young girl who is living a life of play. No wrong is happening, but when she wakes up she's a totally different little girl. She becomes antisocial and always hides away she's never out and about enjoying herself. Yes maybe at night she's more open since she knows she can go to sleep sooner, but in the day... she's not the same and I don't honestly think she ever will be.

I blame Mike for everything. He is responsible for this. If he didn't become the way he was, I'd have my carefree, outgoing little monkey. Except right now, I only have my shy, nervous shadow. I hate it.

I heard my door creak and I saw my brother peak in. He saw that I was awake and poked his whole head out.

"Sorry did I wake you?", Chris whispered.

I shake my head "No I just woke up a bit ago. Are you ok?", I whispered back.

"I'm fine I didn't see Taylor in her room so I wanted to check to make sure she was in here.", He said.

I smiled at him "Look at you being a look out brother.", I teased.

"Shut up", he smirked.

I looked back down to Taylor, I kissed the top of her head and carefully got up from the bed. I put my slippers on and went to the door of my room. Chris backed up for me and I closed the door behind me softly. I scruffed Chris's hair, smiled, and went downstairs to the kitchen to see what food we have left over from our previous haul.

"Lauren we can't keep this up you know.", Chris spoke up after a few minutes.

"Can't keep what up?", I turned to him, tilting my head.

"All of this. Living is this crappy old house, always needing to go out and scavenge or steal whatever we possibly need, not living normal lives it's not right Lauren. This shouldn't be our life.", Chris stated.

I sighed "As much as I absolutely agree with you the reality is that this IS our life Chris. It's our new life. We don't have parents here to take care of us we only have each other."

"Lauren... but look at you. Everyday you wake up you seem so much more exhausted then before. More weak, unstable it looks bad. Sure sometimes it isn't noticeable like when Ashley or Tyrone is here, but I know they are distractions from reality a time where you can take a breather. But as soon as they step out that door everything goes back. You go back to being exhausted and miserable. Don't try to deny Lauren... I've seen it.", Chris said as if it were obvious.

This is something I never wanted. I never wanted my siblings, or just one, see that I'm aching in so many ways besides physically. Sure I have the scars from what I've been through, but I have the mental and emotional scars that, what I thought, were only for me to point out. No one else. I've tried my hardest to be a strong role model for them.

Now Chris has read me...
It's like it clicked one day in him and he was able to see every scar I possibly had.

"Lauren let me help you... ", Chris suggested.

"No, I made myself a promise that no matter what I would always protect you and Taylor, provide for you and Taylor, and love you in the best "motherly" way possible. I don't need help.", I muttered.