"... i think she might've just left me for good. For the rest of my life." Clementine sighed.
September leaned in closer, furrowing her brow in concern. She hasnt seen Clementine this down before, and it worried her.
"She abandoned me. Up and left when I needed her most. Left me to live this crappy life. No real mother, no real father. Just an uncle who i still barely know."
September leaned in and hugged her. September wasnt a hugger for sure, hell, she hated hugs. Especially from random people at random times. But now, her friend needed this hug, and she knew it was the right moment. So she forced herself to wrap her arms around Clems shoulders and squeeze her. She has only ever hugged Clementine before, and she only lets Clem hug her.
Clementine began to cry, she leaned into ber hands and let it out. Why did her mom leave her? She promised! Nearly four years have passed now, and she still hasnt come home. The... D-dirty liar!
"To be honest, youve never tried to get to know your uncle better." September mentioned. "Ive seen you. He says hi, you shrug him off and ignore him. Like you dont want him to be in your life. Why?"
Clementine pulled away agressively.
"Its true, Clem. And you know it. You never speak to him about your problems. I honestly dont know what your going through, but... Jeeze, if you would just speak to him im sure things could get better"
Clementine turned her head and narrowed her eyes at September.
"what do you know?!"
September stood up. "I know that nothing will go well in your life if your to afraid to try!"
Clementine flinched.
September sighed and offerd a hand to Clementine.
"Im sorry." She said. "Just... Talk to your uncle, okay? Just try it. For me."
Clementine stared at her friends hand for a moment, uncertainy in her gaze, before taking it and standing up. But as soon as she was on her feet, she brushed September aside and made her way to the fence door, wiping her teary eyes with her sleeve and sniffing.
"C'mon, Cleme-"
SLAM!
...
Clementine felt her eyes and cheeks burning as she trudged down her street, blinking back her tears. She had her hood pulled over her head as she kicked rocks down the neighbors drives. She wiped her eye as she passed by Luke's house.
"Hey, Clem! Howya doin'?" He called from his garage as he carried a box out and set in on his truck. Wiping his brow, he turned to see her trudge by, ignoring his greeting. Walking a little faster, attempting to avoid a conversation.
"Clem?"
Clementine still didnt respond. She reached her house and opened the door. Shutting it with a loud bang.
The second She shut the door, she was a mess. She tore her coat off and slumped against the wall, slowly sliding until she was hugging her knees to her chest. She buried her head into her hands and bawled. Her shoulder shaking as the tension was released. She slammed her fist in to the wall in frustration. She kicked a shoe over and it hit the wall.
Lee came rushing out of the kitchen at the sound of the noise, and immediatly spotted Clementine at the bottem of the staircase, crying and scrunched up in to a ball.
"clementine!" He exclaimed, making his way over to her. She stopped him before he could reach her.
"No! Go away!" She croaked angrily, looking up at him with glossy eyes and red cheeks. Lee was having none of it.
"Just let me help you! What happened?!" He tried. Kneeling and placing a hand on her sobbing shoulder. She brushed it aside and shoved him back, standing straight up. Lee stumbled and looked shocked that she had hit him.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" She screamed.
Lee stepped back.
Shaking, she turned around and continued to cry.
Stomping up the stairs while gasping through her tears, Clementine reached the top.
"Why cant you talk to me?!" He demanded. She paused, shaking with her head down and fists clenched.
"BECAUSE I WANT MY REAL FAMILY!" She screamed, and she slammed her bedroom door.
...
Clementine slammed the door and sank down again. Her arm brushed something hanging on her wall, and it clattered to the floor. two things. A wooden frame witha photograph of her family, and a photograph of her mom.
Clementine felt an unbearable urge of rage come over her. In anger, she grabbed a large book from her messy floor and slammed it down on the photograph that included her father. She did this over and over until the glass part broke and peices of paper were flying. Her hat fell off, and some of her short hair flew into her face and hung there.
"I hate you! I hate you! You ruined my life!"
After a moment, she stopped.
She tossed the book aside, panting. She put her hat back on and started to stand, kicking thenremains of the photograph away, but not Before her gaze settled on the photograph of her mother. Her smiling and everything. Like she was okay with it. It made Clementine mad.
She wrapped her hands around the firm wooden edges,, taken it over to her sidetable while staring at her mothers face. She eyed the hard edge of the table and the soft glass encasing of the frame thoughtfully while a renewed supply of tears left her face. Suddenly, she lifted the photo above her head and brought it down so it bashed against the sidetable, shattering it instantly. She kept doing this over and over.
"You left me! You left me alone! I hate you! I hate you!" She screamed. In her rage she didnt hear her bedroom door open and the footsteps that followed.
"Clementne! Jesus fucking christ! Calm down!"
Somebody bearhugged Clementine, prying the photograph from her hand. In a fit of rage she fought back, squirming in whoevers arms she was being held in.
"Let me go!" She screamed. Kicking and thrashing.
Whoever it was set her down on her bed and turned her around to face them. Lee looked her in the eyes and heldher arms down so she couldnt hit him. She felt the tears pouring now, and she hyperventilated trying to fight him.
"Clementine, please! It okay, just calm down." Lee assured, still restraining her arms as she tried to resist.
"Engh!" She grunted, fighting. Her chest was heaving with three years worth of pent up rage, frustration, guilt, hurt, neglect, and depression.
"Sh, sh, its okay, its okay." He whispered, releasing her arms when she relaxed slightly. Cupping her face in his hands to keep her eyes on him. She felt the tears flooding from her eyes and her cheeks burned.
"its okay, sweet pea." He whispered. "Its alright."
Clementines broken expression met Lee's comforting gaze, and her unused tears burned in the back of her mind. She helplessly stared at him before doing the unexpected. She dove forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying he face into his shirt. Lee widened his eyes in surprise at her act of affection. And he hesitated. This certainly wasnt Clmentine.
She didnt care what he was thinking at that moment honestly, she just need someone to hug. Someone to talk to. Someone to care. She needed someone to show her that they loved her.
"Lee..." She whimpered into his shirt, her cries muffled. He smiled and hugged her back, pulling her close, savoring the moment. She seemed so small now, so vulnerable. She was trembling in Lee's arms.
"im sorry... Im so sorry..." She choked out in barely audible whisperes. Lee kissed her on the head. Much to his own surprise, she didnt respond.
"Its okay, sweet pea. Its okay..."
...
Clementine pulled away, feeling guilty and humiliated. She never knew herself that she was capable of that kind of thing. It frightened her to some extent.
Lee folded his hands in to lap, looking down at her small face.
"Im still here if you need me, you know." He reminded her.
Clementine nodded and wiped her eyes.
Lee smiled and stood, walking towards the door with the intention of exiting. But Clementine stopped him by grabbing shoulder. Turning him around.
The two made eye contact, and Clementine smiled through her glazed eyes.
"I would like to talk to you downstairs, Uncle Lee." She said.
Lee grinned,
"that would be great." He said. He offered her a hand.
But she shook her head, denying his gesture and brushing his hand away.
"Give me a minute." She asked.
Lee cocked an eyebrow, before affectionaly shrugging and exiting the room.
"see ya when you get down." He added, shutting the door behind him.
"Lee?" She askd.
Lee poked his head back in. "Hm?"
Clementine stuttered, looking at a lost for words. She twiddled her thumbs nervously before making eye contact with him directly.
"I- i lov- i love you." She mumbled incoherently.
Lee looked shocked again, but he nodded and smiled in response.
"And i love you to, Clem. "
He shut the door.
Clementines gaze immediatly looked down, over where the picture frame of her mother had fallen. She climbed out of bed and picked the photo part out of the rubble. Brushing the broken glass, plastic, and wood off it. She gazed sadly at the image of her mother, so happy. Only moment ago set on destroying it completly. She felt a sort of fondness growing next to her hurt. Hurt of being left alone for so long.
With one last sidelong glance at the image, she Tossed it back on top of her sidetable. Unbeknowst to her, it slid behind her bed.
Clementine opened the door and head downstairs to the kitchen, shutting her room behind her.