Chapter 7 | Aaron

If there were one reason David bothered to brush Aaron's hair, it was because he didn't want people wondering why the boy was left unkempt like that.

"She sent you back to me because she's tired of you," David said as he slowly let the comb rake through black tangles. "Even your mom doesn't want you. She doesn't love you, or else she wouldn't have left you like that."

  Aaron sat in front of the dresser with his shoulders slumped and his ankles crossed. He watched himself in the mirror. He knew what he looked like but he desperately wanted to distract himself. There were questions whirling in his head faster than the speed of light and they demanded answers but Jannette wasn't there and he figured he'd rather leave them unanswered than wonder.

  He'd wondered before, the day she left and the second his dad posed those accusations that she'd abandoned him. And it had ended up with his little soul a vagabond in labyrinths of floors strewn with his broken heart and dead ends stamped: left behind!

"Not even uncle Joe loves you, does he? Nah. Because if he did he would've kept you with him. But you know why he didn't? Because he's selfish like Jannette and doesn't want to spend his money on you."

"But they don't have enough money," Aaron countered. Please let it be true, he thought. "That's why they sent me back. Mom told me. She loves me—"

"Bullshit. Since when do you leave someone you love? She's lying. She has money. And if she doesn't, she can fix it. It's just that she doesn't want to. She doesn't want to waste her money on you. She wants to have fun and go out."

Aaron would be convinced by now if it hadn't been for his mom's face the day he left clinging to his eyes like a subtle trace of dirt that refused to be cleaned. He couldn't see past it. The shake to her hands, the hollow inward curve of her cheeks. The tears and the sniffles. Weren't those signs of sadness?

"But she was crying, she wasn't happy." The moment Aaron closed his mouth he hissed at the harsh yank on his hair. David tugged his hair like that as a signal that every time he tried to disagree with him, he'd be hurt. Stable and simple, a formula made to be respected and never broken. Aaron sensed that the timing of the tug wasn't pointless.

"Crocodile tears, son. Crocodile tears. Know what that means? They're not true. She wants to make you think she was sad. Guess what? I'm sure the moment you left she had a big party."

When Aaron didn't respond, neither with a nod nor a shake of his head, David daintily eased the comb through the tangles without causing a single throb. Agree and you'll be safe; that was what he meant with the gentle strokes. Aaron focused on the mirror again. Behind his head stood David, focusing on his hair with an enigmatic grin stretched across his thin lips. Aaron found it hideous. He wanted to stick his tongue out at him while he was looking away but he didn't find the energy in him.

  His bones were tired of the distant aches. His nerves were tired of standing tight and tense on end. He was tired of waiting for his mom to return. When he looked out of the window to his left, the sun was hanging midst the sky. Far, so far. Just like his mom was. But maybe the sun was closer than he'll ever be to her again. Maybe it was a tease, how the sun could see them both but they couldn't see each other.

  If it were possible, Aaron grimaced even more. David noticed that but he didn't understand why. He didn't understand what went on in his little head, and if he was being honest he didn't care enough. All he wanted was for him to hate Jannette.

"Aaron, unfortunately your mom isn't as good as she acts. Even uncle Joe. They left you after all—"

  A knock on the door cut off David's words and Aaron's musings. David set the comb down with a confused frown and walked over to the foyer, and Aaron followed quietly behind. Aaron wanted to think that maybe this was his mom, maybe she'd come now and she'd take him back. But he was used to let downs and he was tired of the heartaches which followed them. So, he made himself believe it was a neighbor, mailman, anyone other than whom he wanted.

  But at the doorstep stood Joe, flesh and bones and a worried expression that'd become so familiar. A few days after he'd given David his son and supposedly flown back to his family. David blinked unsurely. Aaron tried to make sure he wasn't dreaming, or at least not having a nightmare because dreams were nice and what he saw in his sleep was all but. 

"Joe? The hell are you doing here? Didn't you travel?"

"No. Where's Aaron?" Joe pursed his lips in way that was mockingly apologetic. He stepped in then, shoving past David towards Aaron.

  No one saw it but Aaron discreetly pinched himself just to be sure. Reality. "Uncle Joe!" He skipped forwards and threw himself against his front. He looked up at him, the same way he had the day Jannette and Joe took him, just a little before they'd tried to get him into the car. Joe smiled at him. "Where's mom?"

  This had Joe's smile dropping. She hadn't fixed anything yet. And he wasn't even sure of how much he could do. "She's not here, Aaron. She's still trying to get her stuff together. She's in lots of trouble right now."

"Don't lie to the child, Joe," David interrupted. "Tell him that she doesn't know how to be a good parent. Tell him that she wanted to get rid of him."

  Joe would defend his sister but he had more important things to do. He crouched down until he was leveled with Aaron's face, then leant closer towards his ear. "Did he hurt you when I left?" he whispered. "Tell me if he did."

"No." Aaron shook his head. Joe felt that it was robotic, like a reaction he'd been taught to perform when asked a question. Like words he'd been spoon-fed and forced to project. He could be tripping but suddenly he imagined Aaron's skin battered and raw underneath his clothes.

"Come with me a little bit," Joe said as he held Aaron's hand and guided him towards the bedroom, but David stopped him halfway through. Joe pulled away from him and narrowed his eyes. "I'm gonna check if he has bruises. I swear if I find a single mark on him..."

"You won't. I didn't touch him. And you owe me an explanation. I still don't know why you're here."

  Joe stared longer before finally moving into the room and closing the door behind. Aaron didn't quite have the chance to question before he felt his hoodie getting yanked over his head and thrown over onto the bed. His hair flopped back onto his forehead, just about poking his eyes. Joe pushed the bang aside for him.

"Uncle Joe," Aaron whined, instinctively crossing an arm over his abdomen. The air was frigid against his bare skin and he desperately wanted his clothes back on. He wanted warmth, but it didn't seem like he was going to get that in any sense. Not the warmth of his hoodie, not the warmth of his mom.

  Joe didn't even hear him. He carefully eyed his torso, caught his shoulder and peeked down his arms. Turned him and inspected every inch of skin, from his neck to the dimples down by his pelvis. He didn't know if he was paranoid at this point or what but he couldn't help put move his finger along the skin too, just to make sure that David hadn't smattered powder on to conceal a bruise, that there was no spot he'd touch and have Aaron flinching or squeaking.

  It made Aaron uncomfortable even though he was comfortable with his uncle. A paradox, that was all his thoughts were compromised of. He'd frowned through it all, raising a shoulder ticklishly every time he touched his neck. He wanted this to end but when did things ever go his way? He wanted to stay with his mom but he couldn't. Wanted to forget about this house but here he was again. He wanted the person at the door to be his mom but it wasn't. The lesson couldn't be clearer. His dreams were made to be crushed.

"Okay, okay good. You sure he didn't hurt you?" Joe helped Aaron back into the hoodie. Aaron shook his head, and he wasn't lying. He really hadn't touched him yet. Aaron didn't know whether to be relieved or stressed, just anticipating the moment it would start happening all over again.

   "Will you take me back with you? Back to mom? I miss her, uncle." Aaron curled both arms around Joe's neck and leant against him. The wistful sigh that left his lips made Joe's heart wither. Maybe not as much as Aaron's; his had crumpled long ago, left a crispy petal just a prod away from disintegrating. Joe felt like the villain, felt like the idiot who was allowing his sister's wrong decision to crash over an innocent's head.

"I don't know what I'll do with you, but I'm not keeping you here. I can't."

"Woah, wait." David slipped into the room. "Take him? That's what you came back for?" He snorted, loud and brazen. "Yeah, no way. You sent him back. You literally drove him here yourself, and now he's staying."

Joe wasn't sure if he had enough authority over the situation but he tried. "I made a mistake, I agree. Now I regret it. I... I want to to take him back."

"Did Jannette tell you to skip your flight?"

"No. She still doesn't know what to do. But I can't leave him with you of all people." Joe's flight had been postponed due to a storm, and it'd been like a prick to the bubble, a waking slap to the face. He considered it a sign that this was wrong. He caught Aaron's hand protectively, claiming him. "He's coming with me."

  David snorted, leaning back against the doorframe and rolling his eyes. "The dumbass doesn't give a shit about her son. You can't take him, Joe. Mistake's been done and there's no backing out. Not now. Let's be realistic." He straightened. The way the edge of his lips twitched subtly accentuated the taunt in his voice. A game of spite and hatred between a divorced man and woman all about to break the child in between. "You literally can't take him without my consent. It'll be considered kidnapping because I'm his legal guardian and you are his uncle. Who's got the upper hand? Me."

"Since when do you give a shit about him? Don't you remember when you used to hit him? Stop acting like you care. Aaron doesn't have to do with this. I'm taking him."

"Bullshit. Don't act like I was downright abusing him. I only ever hit him when he was being annoying, not always. What did it leave? A tiny bruise? It happens." David leant closer, one hand mockingly ruffling Aaron's hair. "Plus, if you take him, where are you gonna put him? Do you have enough money? Do you think anyone you know will agree to take in a child just like that?"

"I'll figure it out. I'll do anything. I'll even get him into the foster system if I have to. But you, yeah n—"

"Foster system?" David's brows rose high. His lips parted silently for a second, like a mock shock, before laughter finally rumbled from the depth of his rotten chest. "You think this shit will work? Go ahead, let someone put him there." He pushed Aaron's head back towards his uncle, a gesture of approval. "Guess what? I'll get him out two seconds later. Because I'm his father. I have every right to get him out of the foster care. Not even adoption would work because they need my consent."

Joe stood, mouth just a tad agape because didn't want the shock to be too conspicuous. His plans failed hard. Foster care meant that Aaron was neither Jannette's nor his. He'd thought this would satisfy David.

"Moral of the story?" David continued,  rocking back on the balls of his feet. The triumph in his eyes burnt Joe's ego. "Next time, think better before you do a stupid thing. Now that you gave me Aaron, there's no going back. Let Jannette learn how to mess with me next time. If she doesn't know how to deal with problems, it's her fault."

  Joe pulled a disgusted expression. Professionally perhaps, because he'd become used to this man's tactics and disgust was all he'd ever felt. "So she made a mistake. Okay. She's still young for a mother, remember. She lost everything all of a sudden. She doesn't know how to act—"

"Don't justify for her. I didn't force her to get married and have kids. If she knows she's not ready, why the hell would she do it?"

"I'm sure you weren't ready either. Don't act like you're better than her."

"But I am. You know why? Because at least I didn't act like I could take care of Aaron then dump him back two days later. At least I'm not the one who abandoned him. At least I'm not the one who left him the first time, and I'm not the one who didn't look back. If I'm a shitty father, she's much shittier."

  Joe knew discussion wasn't getting him anywhere but he still tried. "David, please, you know you don't have the patience to take care of him. And Jannette doesn't have money. Let's just put him in foster care until she gets ready to take him back—"

"No, no way. I would never agree to put Aaron in foster care. You hear that, Aaron?" He cupped Aaron's shoulder, turning him just enough so he could look straight into the doppelgängers of his own eyes. He raised his brows in a manner that discreetly gestured at Joe. "Your sweet uncle wants to put you in foster care because he doesn't give a shit about you. He doesn't even wanna let you live with him. How selfish. They don't care about you."

  Aaron looked back at Joe. He reached out towards him, small fingers brushing against the side of his hand until they looped his pinky with subtle urgency that cried: don't leave me. "You don't wanna take me back with you, uncle? Why?"

"Aaron, I'm trying to do something, I promise." Joe returned his focus to David. The determination in his chest melted to helplessness swirling in his eyes. "David, for God's sake, let me take him. I'll figure it out. Foster care or not, I'll do something."

"How can you be so stupid? I just told you that you can't put him up for adoption or foster care without my consent. I have my rights as his father. He's staying here."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Guess."

Joe stared long before sighing. He shook his head. "To spite Jannette. You want to hurt her."

"Bingo. Just a lesson. I told her that she'll see the worst if she ever tried to send him back and she was stupid enough to do it. So, whose fault is it? She did this to herself and to Aaron."

Joe knew the answer but didn't want to admit. He opened his mouth but David had already continued:

"Now get away from my son, traitor." David caught Aaron's arm, gently because right now the pretense was essential to play with his little heart. He pulled him until he was closer to his side and crossed an arm protectively around his front. "Honestly now, Joe, don't feel bad. It's not your fault. It's Jannette's. I mean, you have your family and you won't choose Aaron over them. She should choose him over anything, but would you look at that."

"David-"

"Hush. Now you're getting annoying." David took a step forwards until he was right by Joe's face. He gripped his clothes and pulled him closer, leaning towards his ear with threat in the breath that left his lungs. "Joe, my man, you better leave now without any trouble. Or I'll make you. We don't wanna traumatize Aaron with a fight now, do we?"

Joe stayed silent as he glimpsed at Aaron. David continued, "You have nothing to do here. You don't even have the right to take Aaron. He's with his father. Try to take him and I'll call the police. They'll get you thrown in prison and you'll lose your job and your family and Aaron. And you know what else I can do?" David raised a brow expectantly. The silence fed the arrogance swelling in his chest. "I can put Jannette in more trouble. Do you think it was legal for her to take my son and travel like that? She deprived me from him.  Leave before I mess things up more. Legally."

Joe understood what he was hinting at. "So is hitting your son legal?"

"You couldn't prove shit. So it's not true." David's wicked grin messed with Joe's nerves. "Now get out before this turns into a scene."

  Joe knew he couldn't do anything. Even law lawfully wouldn't stand by his side this time. The clock was ticking, his flight was nearing. His family was waiting for him back home. His kids and wife. He looked at Aaron; the oblivious one caught midst a battlefield with every blow dropping on his head, the bait that everyone was using and throwing. His heart throbbed.

Joe lifted his chin. "How long will you be able to bribe, David? How long do you think your dirty games will last? Someday, someday, you'll be caught. Lies never last, especially not if they're all at the expense of an innocent boy." He took a breath through his mouth whilst spreading his palms then slapping them back onto his sides. The white flags of surrender finally soared from his side. "God will get you, I promise. You'll rot in prison. Maybe even hell."

"In your dreams, Joe. In your dreams. The world works on money. That's how it is."

  Joe disregarded him and turned to his nephew. "I'm so sorry, Aaron." The rue in his voice was almost tangible. A single decision taken at the wrong time with the wrong mindset and suddenly the whole world was crumpling, the walls were moving in and the sky was tumbling onto the grounds. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you and still can't. I'm so sorry."

"Apologizing won't do shit. This is the second time you do that to him. Do you expect him to love you?"

  Aaron watched his uncle carefully. If the rue in Joe's voice was tangible then you'd choke on the tragedy in Aaron's eyes. He stood aside like an abandoned puppy, veins ruptured underneath his skin and tender heart burning. His chin was tipped down in a way that made him look up at his uncle through his lashes. That look, that raw pain and sorrow that darkened his marble cheeks and outlined the pout on his lips could kill and Aaron became a murder the second Joe caught upon it. His heartstrings trapped his own heart and squeezed. 

"Uncle," Aaron mumbled. "You're gonna leave me?"

  Joe let out a long breath, eyes closed and one hand raking through his hair. Then he looked at David. His eyes blazed. His blood fizzed. If he could he wouldn't hesitate to pounce forwards and squeeze that neck in front of him. "This makes you happy, doesn't it?" He snorted bitterly, then leant forwards and kissed the crown of Aaron's head. The sweet scent lingered like torture because this was the last time he'd see him for God knows how long.

 Joe moved along, further out through the open door towards the road.

  David grinned. He looked down at Aaron, then bent over and gave his shoulder a quick pat. Aaron didn't move a muscle, didn't blink and didn't wince. Just stared ahead as his own uncle left him behind once again. Once again. He felt his father's breath close against his neck.

"You see this?" David gestured at Joe whilst slowly tracing his son's frail spine with the tip of his finger. Aaron wanted to move away but he didn't find it in him. "That's all Joe and your mom ever turned on you. It's happening right now. Look, look how your uncle is just leaving you behind."

  Aaron remained silent for a moment. "The second time!" he suddenly shouted. Joe froze in his tracks like his nephew's voice glued his feet to the ground before glancing back in his direction. He saw a crystal glass pane concealing grey eyes that bore sorrow far more than they should. The pain burnt in a spot right beneath Aaron's ribs. Boiled his heart, boiled his blood. His skin wilted like a plucked flower left to die.

"This is the second time you leave me, uncle," Aaron continued, his voice shaking because the pain of abandonment folded in the undertones induced an earthquake like no other. The faint crimson spangled across his cheeks was the remnants of his broken heart on flesh. "Why did you even come?"

  The fact that Aaron repeated his father's words; a knife chucked right into Joe's chest. Maybe a machete sawing off his ribs just for the knife to reach better too. His heart clenched hard. When he focused more on Aaron's face, he noticed the pane had finally shattered and the scatters of glass now pooled on his lower lids. A shard or two made it down his cheek.

Joe looked back at David. He had every intention to walk back and punch that smug smile off his lips but restrained it. "Good job. You're already making him hate us. Stop twisting the truth."

"He has every right to hate you, Joe. And I'm not twisting anything. Think about it. You are leaving him for the second time. You're the one hurting him here."

"Do you think I'm happy about it?"

"Answer the child. Why did you come? To clear your conscience? So you can go back home without feeling guilt because you checked on him, and say: oh well I couldn't do anything because David didn't let me?"

"I'm not his parent. I'm his uncle. You're his father. What can I do? You have the rights, I don't."

"Good boy. You know the truth. So, Aaron—" David glanced down at his son and grinned. "—don't hate Joe, hate your mom. It's her fault. She didn't even come."

Aaron locked gazes with Joe. Narrowed eyes framed with wet lashes and filled with malice. "I hate everyone!"  Then he turned and sprinted towards his bedroom. He wasn't about to beg him again so he'd bother taking him along. He'd done it the first time and perhaps the wall itself would've listened but Joe and his mom didn't. Before he disappeared in, he glanced back at the threshold and shouted, "I begged you the first time, uncle. I don't wanna go anymore if you don't want me. Tell mom thank you!"

  At this point there were daggers and arrows and every possible sharp-tipped object plunged in Joe's heart. His blood drained through the open wounds. Joe made a wide step back towards the foyer. "Aaron, I swear it's not that I don't want you, I love—"

"How many times are you gonna break his heart? Just leave, Joe, you're making him more upset." David batted his hand, gesturing him to proceed as fast as possible.

  Joe closed his mouth, his shoulders slumping. He pursed his lips and slapped the edge of the door like the defeated person he was. He nodded to himself as he turned away, perhaps self-establishing that he'd completely lost his nephew at this point. Then, he was climbing in his car.

Perfect opportunity. David gripped Aaron's arm and dragged him back from the bedroom to the window in the living room.

"Dad, leave me!" Aaron thrashed but then he shut up on his own when he realized how his father wanted to show him that Joe was turning on his car, leaving him there just the way he'd pointlessly come in the first place. For a second, he froze and only watched through the glass as it happened.

"I... I don't wanna see." Aaron shook his arm, tried freeing it from the iron grip. But to no avail. David forced him in place. Aaron cried out. "I don't wanna see!"

"You have to see. He's actually leaving you behind. Such a bad uncle."

  The engine roared and the wheels spiraled. The car was soon out of sight. Aaron settled suddenly. His sight fixed onto the carpet on the floor. He pressed the heel of his hand into his eye and cried soundlessly. Shoulders shaking, chest heaving. You could see the tears and sense the pain, but you couldn't hear unless his heart itself spoke of his tragedy—something it wouldn't do even by the grace of a miracle because his pain was not worthy.

David crouched down and watched. It almost broke his heart. He reached out, gently brushing Aaron's hair off his forehead. "Oh, well. Want a hug?"

Aaron nodded, but before it could happen he pulled back and said, "But not from you."

"Well then you're not gonna get a hug. Uncle Joe left and your mom doesn't want you.  I'm the only one here, so..."

"I'll hug the pillow."

  Aaron raced past him towards his bedroom, this time without hindrance. He threw himself onto his bed and pulled the pillow to him tight, burying his face there and spilling his grief into the fabric. If he were being honest, the pillow wasn't good at it. It didn't hug back, didn't give back rubs. Didn't do shit. But he went with it because it was the only comforting thing right now and he wanted anything to hang onto.

At least the pillow didn't abandon him like his uncle and own mother. At least the pillow wouldn't leave him.

*_*_*_*_*

Do you think David has point? Do you think that Aaron has the right to hate everyone? tbh the entire situation is horrible. Personally I think everyone is doing Aaron wrong in some way. what's your opinion about this?

Next chap's about Leo :)

also I'm gonna suck it up and not nag about me not being happy about this chap or anything bc I don't wanna annoy you lol. Thank you so so much for reading/voting/commenting. you guys have a special place in my heart. you don't know how much I appreciate that you're still sticking with the book this far <333