"We got a hunger for destruction
Need someone to bleed
You sealed the deal before the dawn
You let your actions proceed."
- James Brown – Cage the Elephant

The Abusive Perfectionist

My recovery would be quick, the doctors told me. I'd hit my head pretty good on the sidewalk and they wanted to keep me around for observation. In other words, they wanted me to pay some extra money for absolutely no reason at all.

Honestly, I didn't care about the hospital bill I was going to receive. I was just happy to escape it all: Alice leaving, the pain I'd cared since my parents died, Alice's death, and my obsessive personality. While I lay in that hospital bed, I felt oddly peaceful and calm, like nothing could ever shake me again. Maybe I only felt safe because I knew I wasn't the craziest person in the building.

The nurse had closed the curtains around me after she'd given me my lunch.

"We have a young man coming into the bed next to you," she explained. "I don't want them to disturb you."

I nodded as she enclosed me. A few minutes later, the boy the nurse was talking about entered the room.

"Here you go, Seth," the nurse that had just spoken to me announced. "Hop under the covers and the doctor will be right with you."

The nurse left the room, closing the door behind her.

"Mommy, it hurts," the kid, Seth, whined.

"Shut up, Seth," the mother snapped. "Don't you dare open your little mouth about this, you hear me? If you say one word, I swear to God…" The open ended threat hung in the air like a bomb waiting to be dropped.

"I won't say anything," Seth whimpered.

"Good," his mother said curtly. "Besides, you know it was an accident, don't you? I didn't mean to hurt you, Seth."

"I know, Mommy."

"That's my boy."

I remained as quiet as possible. I didn't want the woman to know I was in here. I wanted to know more about her abuse towards her son.

The door opened.

"Well, Seth, it looks like you broke your wrist," the doctor announced. "Can you tell me how this happened? You've been hurt quite a few times in the past few months."

The mother laughed. Even I could tell it was forced and fake. "The poor kid takes after me, I'm afraid. So clumsy."

Dr. Idiot laughed. "Yes, I've seen you in the ER before, Esme."

"I fell down the stairs," Seth answered meekly. "I tripped over my toys."

"Which I told you to clean up." The brusque tone was back in Esme's voice. "See, if you would just listen to me, stuff like this wouldn't happen. Isn't that right, Seth?"

"Yeah," Seth murmured. "I'm sorry, Mommy.

"It's okay, child," Esme assured him. "It's alright."

Yeah, it's sure alright, kid. Your mom's probably gunna beat the shit out of you when you get home. Don't worry, child, you'll survive.

Esme Platt left the hospital to get an overnight bag for her son. Turns out he had a concussion, too. But, before she could even get halfway to her suburban home, she ran a red light and got hit by a semi. The police said her brakes were worn down. Another theory was that they were cut. She ended up being decapitated by the trailer the semi was pulling. The driver tried to swerve out of the way.

Seth ended up being adopted. He seemed to recover from his clumsiness after that.


Very short chapter. Sorry. One more chapter left. Thank you to everyone that's been reading.