Things Might Get Harder
Tears poured down his face, leaving wet spots on the knees of his jeans. He couldn't take it anymore. The name-calling, the slurs, everything was terrible, and Matt couldn’t handle any of it. He sat on the floor of the bathroom, crying into his knees. The sound of leather squeaking distracted Matt. “Hey, red, you doin’ alright?” A heavy hand rested on Matt’s back. He leaned against the other, sniffling weakly. “I–I wish–wish I could just be n–normal,” he sobbed into the other’s shoulder. “I just want to be like everyone else, Frank!”
Frank sighed and rubbed Matt’s back, “Don’t say stuff like that, red.” He held the back of Matt’s head, “You’re perfect just the way you are, don’t let them win.” The two sat in silence, Frank holding Matt till he calmed down. Once Matt was breathing steadily, he pulled away from Frank, embarrassed. “Th–thank you, Frank. I–I appreciate everything you do for me.” He leaned back against Frank, holding his hand and tracing the calluses and scars.
Frank started humming quietly, playing with Matt’s hair. Matt could feel Frank get hotter under his hand. He was about to ask him what was wrong before Peter entered the bathroom. “Oh! Thank god, Matt!” Peter rushed over and hugged Matt, “I heard what happened. Are you okay?” He held Matt’s face gently. Matt didn’t realize he was crying till Peter wiped his tears away. “I–I’m fine, Peter, thanks.” He hugged his cousin tightly, crying into his shirt. Matt didn’t notice when Frank left. He felt awful he ignored his friend, but so much had happened.
Peter took Matt home, waving goodbye before leaving. When Matt walked into the house quietly, closing the door, he noticed his dad wasn’t home. He sighed, throwing his bag on the floor and walking to his room. Matt curled up in bed, holding a stuffed animal Frank gave him for his twelfth birthday. His eyes felt heavy, and he eventually fell asleep.
Matt slowly opened his eyes, sitting up in bed. Something was different. He got out of bed and walked to the kitchen. He heard his dad talking to someone. “I know, but he wants to be Matthew, and I can’t tell him no.” His dad sighed, “You didn’t want to be in his life anyway. No, if you don’t respect our boy, then you ain’t seein’ him–” Matt remembered listening to that phone call. He’d only been around six or seven when she had called. He never met her, but his dad said she wouldn’t be around. “Hey, little man,” he looked up at what he remembered his dad’s face looked like, “I’m sorry, I don’t have the money for a haircut, but I can give it a shot.” Matt smiled and hugged his dad, tears falling down his face.
When Matt woke up, it was the sound of the front door opening. He sat up and walked out of his room. The sharp copper smell of blood hit him. “Dad– Dad, you said you wouldn’t do another fight,” he walked over with a sigh, “Go sit down. I’ll get the first-aid kit.” After patching Jon up, Matt put away the first-aid kit. Jon was quiet, then sighed, “I’m sorry, Matty, I just needed the money for rent,” there was a pause before Jon took a breath, “I’ll get a better job, but it was just quick, I promise it won’t happen again.”
Matt walked out of the bathroom, nodded, and sat with his dad. “You promised, and you can’t break it this time.” Matt clung to his dad, scared of letting go, “I want you in my life as long as I can have you.” Jon kissed Matt’s head and hugged him. “I’d never want to leave you, Matty.”