CHAPTER 26
TW: Gaslighting by family member
Avery ended up staying at Larry's place for 4 days and 3 nights before she felt like she overstayed her welcome. It was only supposed to be a day or two. She knew she had to stop at her aunt's place eventually. She had put it off long enough. Though she did need to ask Larry one more favor. She needed him to drive her. Her aunt lived about 3 hours away in Amherst, Massachusetts. Nicky jumped at the chance for a road trip. So after eating breakfast they all started their travels. Nicky and Avery were playing iSpy and other road trip games to pass the time. But it had to end sooner or later. As they pulled up to her aunt's house, Avery took a few deep breaths. She profusely thanked Larry for driving her and promised to play a rematch of Mario Kart with Nicky when she got back.
"Took you long enough to get here Avery. I thought you were supposed to be at your little friend's house, that you couldn't be bothered to show up here." A grating voice cut through the silence as Larry drove away.
Here we go.
"Hi aunt Linda. Sorry I'm late or even here at all. My plans got changed last minute."
"That your boyfriend I saw drove off?"
"What, no! That's Larry. He's a friend from my internship. He had to drive me because I obviously don't have my car at school."
"Hmph." Was all her aunt said.
Avery marched right up to her room and began unpacking her stuff. She didn't want to be in her aunt's presence any more than she had to this visit. She hated having to listen to her aunt lecture to her that she was never going to find a job with her "ridiculous" major, that she was "wasting" her time.
"Oh and Avery? I forgot to mention that your father will be coming sometime today. He's got a pass from rehab."
Avery froze. Why had this not come up sooner? Sure, just add another curveball to my winter break plans.
"Well if that's the case, then I'll be camped out in my room for the rest of the break."
"You're not going to hide out in your room, not if I have any say in this young lady! You will not be rude!"
She's really starting to get on my nerves!
"No thank you. And last I checked, I'm an adult. You can't treat me like a child. I have a choice in this matter and I'm choosing not to see him." She put as much disdain in her voice as she said that. "Being in his presence makes me super uncomfortable, aunt Linda."
"Honestly Avery. He's still your father and my brother. You will show some respect."
"I lost respect for that man as soon as I knew what the word meant." Venom was in her voice. She did not know where this confidence to really voice her opinion came from.
"I lost respect for him when he was emotionally abusive to me! When he screamed at me over the littlest mistakes. If my school bus was late, he blamed me. When I didn't clean my room properly, if anything was out of place, he would scream at me. How he would berate me over little things that should not matter. I lost respect for him each and every time he picked up a bottle! Don't get me started on my mom. She did the same damn things as he did! And look where she is, in jail for multiple DUI charges. Dad's not any better! Every time he "completed" rehab, he would just return to drinking and his neurotic tendencies would worsen each time! I lost respect for both of my parents at a very young age that no kid should ever have to go through!"
"Aren't you exaggerating a little bit Avery?" Her aunt gave an exhausted sigh.
"Are you saying I didn't have those experiences, aunt Linda?" Anger was bubbling in her chest. This time it was directed at her aunt.
"Well, you were always the imaginative one of the family. You were quite young when it started happening. Maybe you pieced together what you think should have happened. I'm sure it wasn't that bad. You're here aren't you? It's the holidays. A time for forgiveness and cheer. A time for reconciling perhaps?"
I cant believe im being fucking gaslit by my own aunt!
"How dare you! I know what I saw, I know what I've heard, and I know what I've done!"
She displays the scars on her wrists, holding them up to the light.
"Is this proof enough for you? Proof to show just how hard it was to cope with anything in that goddamn house with my fucking parents?"
"Watch your language young lady. This is my house and that is my brother you are talking about! Gosh you've always had a touch for the dramatics. That was clearly just an attention seeking method. I don't know why I even helped you get into therapy. Clearly it's done nothing helpful but made you an awful, selfish person. I seriously see no improvement from your therapy sessions. I can't understand why you wouldn't want to see him- he's your father! And he'll be here shortly. And you will greet him, otherwise you won't have a room here much longer. Now go."
Avery went to her room and slammed the door. Sure enough her father made an appearance sometime later. Her aunt's threat loomed in the air. She always used to say things like that but never had any follow through. But something in Avery froze when she thought about being kicked out. Especially with how rocky things were with her and Beth. They had plans to get an apartment together and find jobs in the city. Before she could salvage what remained of their friendship, she needed a place where she could be alone and collect her thoughts. Larry's apartment was nice and all but sleeping on the couch in the living room didn't exactly give her privacy. At least here she had a door she could close or rather slam shut. So with every ounce of self restraint, Avery gritted her teeth and marched downstairs to face the one man who made her life hell.
"Ah there's my baby girl! My how you've grown since the last time I saw you. That was what- like 3 years ago! Time flies when you're in and out of rehab centers, I'll tell ya." He held his arms open and started approaching her. Her heart started beating faster as her fight or flight instincts began to kick in. Over his shoulder, she saw her aunt mouth "hug him." So she gave a quick millisecond of a hug, although her father seemed to want to linger, she hopped back quickly regaining her boundaries.
"Hi…dad." Her voice was terse. And the rest of the evening went similarly. Avery would try to play the polite daughter, although her voice betrayed her on occasion. Her fight or flight instincts remained with her until her aunt seemed to take some pity on her and mercifully excused her from the table.
Sprinting back up to her room, Avery got out her phone and called the one person who would hopefully be available. She didn't dare get her hopes up but she needed to talk to someone. She needed to talk to Ahk. She waited for a few rings and just when it seemed luck was against her Larry picked up.
"Avery? What's going on?" He sounded a tad bit distracted and she wondered what that distraction might be.
"Hey Larry. First off, thank you for the ride to my aunt's. Secondly, would you mind passing the phone to Ahk. I just really need to talk to him."
"Oh, uh, yeah sure. Lemme just…" Shuffling and static could be heard on the other end until finally…
"Avery? Are you alright?" What a sweet relief it was to hear his soothing voice.
"Ahk! Hey! I'm not quite alright, but I'm not sobbing so there's a win. This is gonna sound strange but I just really needed to hear your voice." Was it getting warm in here? Were her cheeks getting red? She practically melted when she heard the concern in his voice.
"Oh, well that is good. What is the matter? I was told you were at your aunt's house. Hold on, I'm going to move us into my exhibit so I can hear you better." More shuffling came from his end. "Alright, I believe we are good to go. Tell me though, are you truly alright?"
"Not quite. My dad is here, so that brings up a whole lot of bad emotions and memories. Before that my aunt and I got into an argument and she basically gaslit me-" And so she spilled her guts again to Ahk. He listened carefully and gave his insight here and there. He meant it when he said he was going to be there for Avery.
"Are you sure that "therapist" wasn't part of a Pharaoh's duty?" She lightly teased.
"Ha! I assure you, it was not technically in the job description. But part of a Pharaoh's duty included listening to my people. So in a way I suppose I was a therapist!" She could hear him smiling through the phone. And that made her smile.