His nostrils were on fire and every burning breath he took smelt rancid, like decaying meat. Edward could feel his chest heaving a little higher than average even though he could not see it. His esophagus and trachea felt sore and used, tingling irritatingly along with his legs, giving him the feeling that they were vibrating.
Please, just let this pain stop.
"Edward, I'm so sorry, I should've gotten home sooner. I should've been there to stop this but I wasn't and you're paying for it. Edward, please, honey, if you can hear me open your eyes."
Edward shook his head slowly. No. I can't. I won't. I don't want to see you cry.
"Edward! Oh thank God! Edward, sweetie, please open your eyes for me. I need you know that you're okay. Please."
"Edward, listen to your mother or I'll peel your eyelids from your eyeballs." Edward began to sniffle at his father's threat, knowing very well, that his father - from the tone of his voice - would in fact open his eyes forcefully.
"You're scaring him, Edward! How could you say something like that to our son? And especially at a time such as this! Have you no heart?"
"I'm fed up of you and your stupid questions and I shall tell my son what I damn well please. He's my son as well. I have that right as his father."
"No, you will not speak to my son in that manner. Ourchildren have hurt him and I want them gone. Out of the house in a weeks time. I want them sent to boarding school. You have let this get too far and I think it's time we took action."
"The others stay and I mean it, Elizabeth. I will not send our other children to boarding school because you are playing favourites. You've neglected the others and they're just trying to get their mother back."
"I've neglected the others? I have done no such thing! Maybe if they weren't so hellbent on killing him, I would have more time for them!"
Stop…I'll open my eyes, just stop… Edward opened his eyes as wide as they would go, cringing as the cool hospital air met them in their bloodshot state. Making small grunting noises in the back of his throat to get his parents attention, he flailed his arms gingerly.
Aw, dammit! Just look at me! My eyes are open, please, stop!
It happened then. Edward's eyes grew large and a yelp of surprise suffocated him momentarily. Elizabeth's head snapped to the side the sound of the impact echoing in Edward's ears - in his mind - then the sound of barely restrained snuffles clouded his hearing. His father stood breathing heavily, enraged, trying to keep his temper in check before he made another rash move.
He struck her…after everything he had taught us about respecting women and learning to be proper gentlemen, he struck mummy…
"I'm calling Burns. I can't live like this anymore. I'm filing for a divorce. Burns'll call you to finalize the settlement but I definitely want the other children." With that Edward Sr left the room, fingers clasped on the bridge of his nose. Edward watched Elizabeth fall to the floor, cupping her cheek with one hand, the other fisting itself in the material of her blouse at her hip, breaking down. He saw his mother, an ever thriving rose amidst all of the bedlam and adversity, wither away and wilt down to barely nothing. She curled up into a feotal position, hugging her knees as tight as she could to her chest and cried her eyes out. Never before had he sounded so final about a divorce. She knew he was dead serious and was expecting the papers within the week but it still didn't stop her from weeping. Edward had been her first love, all through high school and college, her only love. Scared and very much unsure how to deal with a grieving woman, Edward peered tentatively over the bed rails, hands trembling, arms straining with the effort to hold his body up.
…I wish I could hold you in my arm and tell you it's okay,
kiss those tears that stain your cheeks and make them away,
wipe your darkest, deepest fears into a long forgotten yesterday,
and be the person you always believed me to be…
…As you lay crying broken and beaten on the floor,
while his love diminishes, I love you even more,
when he throws down the keys and walks out your door,
I'll stay and try to be the person you always believed me to be…
…I wish I could hold you in my arm and tell you it's okay,
kiss those tears that stain your cheeks away,
wipe your darkest, deepest fears into a long forgotten yesterday,
be the person you always believed me to be…
…Take my hand but I can't promise you a bright future
this soon after what feels and was a lifetime of torture,
but I can promise as the door slams shut on his departure,
I'll stay and try to be the person you always believed me to be…
…I wish I could hold you in my arm and tell you it's okay,
kiss those tears that stain your cheeks away,
wipe your darkest, deepest fears into a long forgotten yesterday,
be the person you always believed me to be…
…I didn't see your tears behind your smiles before,
I was young, innocent, stupid, naïve and insecure,
but I've gotten older now and I'm a little more mature,
so now I try to be the person you always believed me to be…
…I wish I could hold you in my arm and tell you it's okay,
kiss those tears that stain your cheeks away,
wipe your darkest, deepest fears into a long forgotten yesterday,
be the person you always believed me to be…
your heart is aching, brimming with the pain that threatens to stay,
but I don't plan on leaving you, don't make me go away,
I'll stay and try to be the person you always believed me to be…
Edward let the words pour out of his heart, dancing on the low, lulling melody in his mind and envelope his mother and her sobs grew less frightening.
If music can no longer be my comfort, then let it be yours.
AN:- hey everyone! I'm so sorry that this chapter is up so late. I'm really busy with school work right now. In form 4 there's no rest at all! I'm up to my ears in SBA's (School Based Assessments) so chapter will be posted as irregularly as this. Still working on the third chapter of CRY, for those of you who read it. Hope you like this chapter of TRFIY…Yup, Edward wrote a song for his mother. The name of it is "Growing Into The Man I Need To Be" and yes, I wrote it as in, it's an original, spat out of my mind…I hope you like it...when school starts back I'll try to get one of my music teachers to put a tune to it. Review please! Love from, Zakh.