I am never comfortable with festivals, especially when alcohol is involved. However, how can I say no when my friend invites me? Gray Fullbuster would always invite me, and I appreciate the company as we walk along the stalls, seeing what magic they had or any good food and trinkets, and he seemed to know my discomfort as we avoided the ones with any kind of mind-numbing brew.
Though a few times I would flinch whenever someone who was completely sloshed comes near me, try to hug me, or flirt with me, having severe flashbacks where it was debilitating and I couldn't do anything but try to get away from the source. This is where I am also grateful for my friend as he would freeze them in place before guiding me to another area. Today was just too much…
I suddenly lost my temper and sent Macau flying with a plank I teleported before running to find a place for solace, ignoring Gray's voice trying to call me back to no avail. I just didn't want to be anywhere with people who willingly drink to lose control of themselves.
Why did they always drink like him?
My father would always drink himself to a stupor, and he would lash out at anything and anyone he could get his grubby hands on, even if it meant his only daughter. I would be thrown around, punched, kicked, and even a target for his magic practice to where I would be unable to move the next few days, and he would apologize every time whenever he regained his self-consciousness. However, he never stopped so what is the point of apologizing?
That was two years since he had last done this, when Gray and the Guildmaster Makarov came and confronted the man with a few of the Rune Guards to arrest him. He would deny the allegations and would beg me to tell them it was a lie, since if I would say he did nothing wrong they wouldn't charge and arrest him since I was the only victim.
Unfortunately for him, I grew tired of his lies. I took off my shirt and revealed the bruises and scars he had done over the years and the look of betrayal passed through his eyes before yelling obscenities for my treachery. I became numb to his insults and just said. "The only treachery here is you using your daughter as a punching bag." The look on his face was priceless.
I then became a member of Fairy Tail, and I slowly gained a new family with them, but the trauma still remained. I have seen several there drinking like no tomorrow and some had passed out, but they never had any ill will whenever it was done, yet why couldn't I just let that go? Why can't I drink a drop without thinking if I would become like him, just as cold and ruthless? Just thinking of letting it remove my control just makes my stomach churn.
Gray had eventually found me in a cave outside of town looking at the large lake glowing in the moonlight. I was still shaking from the ordeal, flashbacks plaguing my mind of every drunken torture and vowing myself to never drink that vile concoction in fear of me becoming like him.
Gray sat down next to me and released his magic, cooling the area and sending mist-like crystals in the air. I eventually took notice of them and chuckled as one hit my nose, creating a sudden chill. Looking back at my friend he had a kind smile, one of understanding, and handed me some food and regular drinks he had bought before finding me. I giggled as the tension and the flashbacks eased away, and so did my fear. He always seems to know how to get me out of my nightmare, and I am grateful. Having someone to help you cope is easier than trying to survive alone.