Wednesday

2:30am

October 23, 2011

Emily

"Mom!" Arthur whisper yelled. I frowned waking up. "What?" I asked silently as he looked scared. "I-I'm having nghtmares." He whispered stnading by the bed. I smiled and scooted back for give him space. "Come here." I whispered as he laid beside me. "So are you gonna tell me about those nightmares?" I asked as he faced opposite of me. He shook his head no. "You're gonna have to tell me sooner or later, ok?" I asked facing the opposite of him.

2:40am

"No! Stop! Touch her and you die damn it! Get away from my mother!" Arthur screamed punching everywhere. "Arthur! Stop, please calm down." I whispered trying to overpower him, but he managed to punch my cheek and push me back. I fell on the floor with a thud, causing him to wake up. "What the-Mom?" He asked as I clutched my stomach. I think my stich reopened. "Son of a b-" I cut him off weakly. "Don't even say it, Arthur." I whispered gasping. It's really hurting. "Mom, I-I'm sorry. I... damn it, I-I'm gonna g-go sleep in my room." He mumbled starting to get out, but I slowly stood up and stopped him. "Arthur Stan, you are not going back to your room. You are having nightmares and I'm going to do everything I have to to stop them." I said putting pressure on my stomach. "Mom, I..." He trailed off looking ashamed. "Get the bandages in the bathroom, please." I whispered smiling. He nodded and quickly ran towards the bathroom.

I sighed sitting down on the bed. Son of a bitch! It hurts! Arthur handed the bandage with shaky hands. I frowned wrapping my free hand around his hands. "Stop shaking. No one is going to hurt you while I'm here." I whispered grinning. "Mom, did I cause that?" He asked frowning. "It's alright. I can fix it, now stay in bed and don't move." I ordered lifting my shirt and removing the bandage. I removed the earlier stich and started to make another one. "Is it gonna scar?" Arthur asked as thunder rang. He jumped and backed away. I smiled and shook my head. So his scared of thunder. I should've figured. "How can Naomi and Kieren sleep through this ruckus?" He asked as I patched myself. "I always sung them a lulluby or read a book to them and I am doing just that." I said finishing up and grabbing a book from my shelf. "Is Percy Jackson and The Lightning Theif alright?" I asked as he nodded. "Alrighty then..." I trailed off reading him three chapters before he finally fell asleep. I think I'll ask him what his nightmare is about later when he wakes up. I slowly fell asleep hoping he'd finally sleep in peace.

3:00am

I woke up to sobbing. I frowned and opened my eyes to see Arthur crying on my shoulder. "Hey, sweetie. What is it?" I asked extremely worried. "I could never sleep. Not in this weather." He whispered sadly. I frowned wrapping my arms around him and started rubbing his back. Thunder sounded and and he gripped the comforter. I frowned hugging him tighter. "You have to tell me what your nightmares are about." I whispered smoothening his hair. "I-I can't... B-But all I-I can say i-is that t-they're about y-you and my real m-mother." He whispered hiding his face. "Whatever it is, I'll be here to hold you, bring you back to reality. Think of happy thoughts to push your nightmares away, think of a door where you can escape into a wonderful world of technicolor. Where all your favorite things are. Think of the good memories you had with her. Think of the things that remind you of her." I finished as he was sound asleep again. Being a mother sure is hard. I began to drift off again.

5:00am

I was awaken by the strong sound of thunder causing Arthur to jump and hold onto my arm. "Shhh, you're alright. I'm right here. I'll protect you." I whispered as I noticed we had no current. "Mom, it's so dark." He whispered as if someone was going to hear him and harm him. "We need to get to your brother and sister." I whispered as I sat up. "No! I mean... No please, I am scared and they seem to be sound asleep. Bradley is across the hall from them so I think they're safe." He whispered gripping my hand. I smiled and sat back down. "Go back to sleep." I whispered as he hugged me tighter. "She died when the weather was like this..." He trailed off looking at the window. I stayed for him to continue. "She pushed me under the bed and kept telling me 'shhhh' to stop me from crying and making any noise. when I finally fell silent enough I could hear my father yelling.

' Where is the fucking kid huh!?

I want to see him!

He's not even mine you fucking bitch!

I loved you and this is what you repay me with!?'

He repepted those sentences over and over again and mom finally stood up. "I love you." She whispered crying then walked out the door.

' Shut up! Yes! That's right! Arthur isn't yours! His father died when I started seeing you! I fucking hate you for ruining his life!

Shut you bitch! You lied to me all this time!'

BAM
BAM

I covered my ears as I heard the shots then I heard footsteps. "Here, Arthur. Where are you, you little shit?" He asked as I heard footsteps coming nearer. Every step he made was sync with the thunder striking. He finally reached the door and the loudest thunder sound I have ever heard. "Where are you, you little punk!" He yelled as the bottle of beer fell. He walked towards my bed and stopped for awhile then stooped down and grabbed me by the arm. "Found you, you little shit! Your mother cheated on me and you're here reminding me of her!" He yelled slicing my arm. I cried, but he laughed and threw me across the room. I yelped and he stood up facing me. "A-Arthur, I'm sorry. I... I just couldn't take it anymore. I love you, really. Your auntie is going to get you soon. Goodbye, Arthur." He whispered sliting his throat and blood was everywhere. I tried to voice out my pleas for him not to do it, but when I yelled, nothing came out. " He said as he wiped his tears. So that's what happened to him, why he always cried, 'Father! Please, don't do it!' every night after we first found him.

"Shhhh, enough crying, sweetie. It's over and you have to move on. Remember, I'm here going to protect an love you until I still can. Same applies to your two younger siblings. Get some more sleep, Arthur." I whispered kissing his forehead. He smiled sleeping soundly this time. Nightmares will always be there, but I'll always be there trying to protect you.