Save Me

vi. happiness

Harley looked like he was contemplating something. His voice was quiet when he said, "She starts hitting me whenever she has news about Father. She sometimes doesn't let me eat for about a day. She locks me in the basement for hours when she can't stand seeing my face. And she loves to grab my hair most of the time before dragging me around the house. There's more, but that's all I can remember."

Lesley's eyes widened in horror, and she covered her mouth when she gasped. Why was her mother so cruel to him? Yes, Harley does look like their father, but it wasn't like he was the one who did all the things to her. "When did all of this started?"

"Probably a week after you left," Harley said, poking his food with his spoon.

That meant, he was six when Mother started hurting him.

He was only six.

"I left you like that for five years," Lesley said, her voice in a whisper. Her vision started to blur, and she clenched her hands in order to hold back the tears. "What kind of sister am I for leaving you?"

"Lesley, it's not your fault," Harley said, looking at her with a frown. "You were suffering too. You can't just–"

"I could've handled it!" Lesley snapped, making her brother flinch. "What I faced was nothing compared to yours. I left, thinking, I am going to be free. I should've known that my freedom has a price to pay, and I did just that by leaving you with her!"

"Lesley, please calm–"

"What the hell is wrong with me?!" Lesley shouted, running a hand through her hair. She took in a deep breath, and her brows furrowed when she noticed Harley starting to quiver. "Harley?"

Harley's eyes widened in fear, and she watched as he moved a little further away from her.

She frowned, and she decided to inspect herself in case there was something scaring him. Finding none, she called for her brother again, "Harley, what's wrong?"

He seemed to return to his senses, and he quickly shook his head. "I– it's nothing."

"Harley?" She placed a hand over his shoulder, and he winced at the gesture. Something was definitely wrong. "Please tell me what's wrong."

For a moment, he didn't say anything. His mouth opened and closed, a sign that he was hesitating. His voice was barely audible when he said, "Lesley, you... you look like Mother when she's angry."

Lesley stiffened at her brother's statement, and she wanted to slap herself for scaring her brother like that. She should know better than to remind him of Mother. Did he think she would hurt him when she's angry?

Forcing herself to soften her features, Lesley made an attempt to give her brother a smile. The smile on her face was strained at first, but then, it felt natural. "Is this better?"

Harley stared at her face for a while before nodding his head. "Yeah."

"Good." Lesley said, pulling at her own cheeks so that her smile would remain on her face. But then, she frowned. "Harley, I'm sorry. You know I will never hurt you, right?"

"I know," Harley said quietly, and he averted his gaze. "But you look so much like her, it's just–"

"I understand," she said, placing a hand over his shoulder. "But please tell me if I'm doing something wrong. I don't want to see you hurt ever again."

And I want to see you happy.

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Harith and Nana entered Harley's room, and the both of them were relieved when they found the mage on the bed this time. Harley looked like he had calmed down from his earlier state, and they were both surprised to find him drawing something on a book. When they got closer, they realised that Harley was actually colouring a picture—with crayons.