Hey y'all, thank you all for the great feedback! I really enjoy reading your comments! I want to note real quick that this chapter and possibly the next chapter, will be touching
on subjects of child abuse. So, if that is triggering for you, I fully understand you not wanting to continue reading the story. For those of you who do decided to keep reading, I hope you enjoy and as always remember to R&R!
Ten year old Gabriel winced as the rice he was kneeling on, dug into his tender knees. Gabriel had been kneeling on the rice, in the corner of his parents kitchen for the past hour, while his father "Charles" sat at the kitchen table reading his news paper. And his mother washed dishes.
Gabriel glanced down and could see some blood on the rice, he knew it had finally cut through his skin, but he didn't dare ask to get up or move a muscle, until his father said other wise.
"Gabriel! Put your nose back against that wall! I didn't tell you to move yet!" Charles boomed.
Gabriel did as his father told, and pressed his nose against the wall, causing the rice to dig in deeper into his knees.
After what felt like another hour, Charles finally ordered his son out of the corner, and to stand right in front of him.
Gabriel got up quickly and stood right next to his father, head bowed, knowing not to make eye contact unless his father said too.
Charles grabbed his sons leg and examined the damage caused by the rice, Gabriel heard his father huff.
"You see this Gabriel?! This is what happens when you decided to fail a test!" Charles snapped, letting go of his sons leg.
Gabriel pulled at his fingers, but said nothing. His father was referring to a math test that Gabriel had received a B+ on, which to most people wouldn't be considered a failing grade, but in Charles mind, anything below an A+, was seen as a failing grade.
"Don't just stand there staring at the floor like an idiot! What do you have to say for yourself, Gabriel?! Charles asked, slamming his fist on the table.
Gabriel gulped, "Um, Um, I-I'm sorry father, I studied really hard for that test. I-It's just math is not my best subject. B-But, I thought a B+ was better then completely failing the test."
"Better? BETTER?! How stupid can you be, Gabriel?! No son of mine is going to walk around thinking it's fine to just bring home poor grades like that! You know what your mother and I
expect of you!" Charles snapped.
"I know father, m-maybe I could get a tutor? To help me with my math, so I bring home good grades from here on out." Gabriel replied.
Charles glared at his son, before slapping him across the face.
"A tutor?! I think you have lost your mind, Gabriel! You don't need no tutor! What you need to focus more and study harder! Because, if you ever bring home a grade like that again, I will whip the skin off you!" Charles replied.
"I-I understand father, I will try harder in the future, m-may I go now?" Gabriel asked.
"How dare you ask if you can leave! Who do you think you are?! Have your mother and I not taught you respect, boy?!
"I'm s-s-sorry father, I didn't mean to be rude." Gabriel replied.
"You didn't mean to be rude, you didn't mean to fail your math test, well you know what Gabriel?! I didn't mean to get your mother pregnant! I never wanted you! You are nothing more then a mistake, a burden! That I now have to deal with because your mother chose not to abort you for whatever reason! You are nothing more then an embarrassment to the Agrest family! I feel ashamed telling people that you are my son!" Charles snapped.
Gabriel said nothing, he had no words, he knew his father hated him, but it was his fault for not being a good son.
"I-I'm sorry father, I-I will try to make you proud someday."
"HA! Make me proud?! I have a better chance at winning the lottery, then of ever feeling "proud" of you, Gabriel!
Now, get yourself upstairs and study! I don't want to see you the rest of the night! You are not getting dinner, you'll eat again when I feel like you have earned the right to eat again!" Charles snapped.
"Y-Yes sir, m-may I tend to my knees first? They are hurting." Gabriel replied.
"They are suppose to hurt or else the punishment would be pointless!" Charles replied, kicking his son's left knee, causing Gabriel to wince in pain.
"Get upstairs and I better not see you touching those knees! Or you'll kneel on rice the whole
night, do you understand?! Charles asked.
"Yes sir"
"Good, now get out of my sight!" Charles snapped, shoving his son tortes the door.
End of flashback...
Gabriel now sat quietly across from Mrs. Caron, he never spoke about his past to anyone, expect Emile and Natalie. But, he had thought over what Natalie had said, and decided to talk to Mrs. Caron first, and she had asked him if he could think of anything off the top of his head, talking about it again, made Gabriel feel weak, powerless, just like he did when he was a child.
"Gabriel, I know that was probably hard for you to talk about, but I'm glad you decided too, I do want to know, does Adrien know about any of the abuse?" Mrs. Caron asked.
"No, no, he doesn't know really anything about my childhood. I try my hardest to not bring the past up with Adrien." Gabriel replied.
"Why is that?" Mrs. Caron asked.
"B-Because, I never wanted Adrien to see me as weak or vulnerable, which is what I feel when I bring up my past." Gabriel replied.
"I see, has Adrien ever met your parents?"
"No, no, once I left home at 18, I never looked back, I cut all contact with my parents. And made sure they never figured out where I was, I didn't want them around my son." Gabriel replied.
"What about when your fashion business got off the ground? Did they try to reach out at all?" Mrs. Caron asked.
"I don't know, and I honestly don't really care. They never loved me, so why would me being successful make a difference?" Gabriel asked.
"I understand, but do you think your past has influenced your parenting at all?" Mrs. Caron asked.
"I try to tell myself that it doesn't, but unfortunately I believe I may of picked up some of my fathers traits." Gabriel replied.
"And how does that make you feel, when you come to that realization?" Mrs. Caron asked.
Gabriel sat there silent for a moment, he looked down at the floor, not waning Mrs. Caron to see he tears forming in his eyes.
"Horrible...hopeless...like an evil person, who doesn't deserve children."
Mrs. Caron nodded, "that's all very normal, Gabriel. But, it can get better, if this is something you wish to continue addressing in therapy."
Gabriel wiped his tears, before looking up at Mrs. Caron.
"I'll do whatever it takes to be a better person, a better father to my son, even if it brings me great pain..."
So, not a great ending, but I struggled a bit with this chapter, which is why it took a little while to get this one posted. And yeah, I know this one is longer, but some people like the longer chapters. But, I please continue to let me know what you think. And I'll be back soon with another chapter, until then, Blessings! Butterfly582