Author's note:
It's actually been really hard for me to know what to do with myself when I sit down to write and I have to make everything up out of my own mind! But I figure short pieces like this are good practice and a good way to ease into original writing (versus fanfiction).
This story isn't particularly groundbreaking or unique, but I figured I would share it anyway! Enjoy!
CW: Misogyny, abuse
Maybe He Likes You
“I’m doing this because I love you, not because I want to,” her father said, laying her across his knee. He tugged down her sparkly pink leggings and her polkadot print big girl underwear. In the other room, her mother taped cardboard over the shattered window pane, grumbling.
He raised his hand.
The little girl wailed, her bottom tensed for the coming sting. Her small hands curled into dimpled fists.
Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. A spank for each year she’d been alive and an extra one to grow on.
She screamed, her tears burning her cheeks and her throat aching.
Her father pulled her big girl underwear and her sparkly leggings up over her smarting, pinkened butt with gentle hands and sat her on his lap.
“I love you sweetheart,” he said, kissing her wet cheek. “Don’t forget I love you.”
♡
“He must like you,” the yard duty teacher said, crouching in front of her to look at her bloody knees.
“But he pushed me,” sobbed the little girl. “He always pushes me.”
“That’s how boys are,” said the teacher with a reassuring smile. “They’re always mean to the girls they think are pretty.”
The girl looked across the playground at the little boy. He ran around the play structure, hollering and whooping with his friends. He thought she was pretty?
“You’d better have the nurse clean up those knees,” said the teacher, standing up with a faint groan. “Do you know the way to the office?”
The little girl nodded and hobbled away. Her knees throbbed.
“Oh, no! What happened?” said the nurse, bringing her to sit on the small cot in her office. She reached for the first aid kit. “Did you fall?”
“One of the boys in my class pushed me,” said the little girl. “He always pushes me.”
“Ah,” said the nurse, with a knowing nod as she tore open an antiseptic wipe. “He must really like you.”
♡
“I’m just worried because I care so much about you,” said her boyfriend. “I don’t want you talking to other guys when I’m not around.”
It was almost second period. They were sitting at their desks, waiting for the bell to ring.
“I won’t talk to any other guys,” she said. “Not unless it’s about the show.”
“Why did you even audition for the play?” he grumbled. “We’re barely going to have time to hang out after school.”
“It’s just for six weeks during rehearsals,” she said. She had been fizzing and popping with excitement ever since she saw her name on the cast list that morning, but now it was going flat.
“That’s a long time,” he said. “But, whatever.” He shrugged. “I guess I’m just more invested in our relationship than you are. It’s fine.”
He turned around, slouching in his seat. Sulking.
She stared at the back of his head, chewing her bottom lip. “Can’t you be happy for me?” she whispered.
He didn’t look at her, his shoulder lifting in a shrug. “I am happy for you. I just didn’t realize I was your second priority.”
She slumped, interlacing her fingers and squeezing her hands together. She propped her chin on her thumbs, frowning against her knuckle.
When class ended, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and sidled down the aisle between the desks, keeping his back turned to her. She chased behind him and grabbed his hand. “Wait,” she said.
“What?” he grunted.
“I decided to drop out of the play,” she said. “I want to spend time with you, too.”
He turned around, his face lighting up. “Yeah?”
Her stomach knotted. “Yeah,” she said.
He kissed her.
“I love you,” he said.
♡
“But that’s how I feel closer to you,” said her husband. “I’m a physical guy.”
She blinked, groggy-eyed, as she paced the floor, bouncing their gassy newborn daughter. “The doctor said no sex for six weeks.”
She had been grateful for the ban. She was still sore from the birth and tired from the night feeds. She didn’t want sex. She wanted a shower.
“But that’s so long,” said her husband. “I miss you.”
She yawned. “We could cuddle. That sounds nice.”
He gave her a look.
“I just had a baby,” she said. “I need to heal.”
“I’ll be gentle,” he wheedled. “And I won’t take long.”
The baby began to cry.
She wanted to cry, too.
“Can you walk her around in her stroller so I can rest?” she asked.
Her husband shook his head and went into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him.
She hung her head, then grabbed the diaper bag, her phone, her wallet, and her water bottle and went outside. She pushed the baby around the block, leaning on the stroller for support. Her husband loved her. He just wasn't good at showing it.
When she arrived back at the house, the baby was asleep and she was wincing with every step.
She laid the baby down in her bassinet, then knocked on the bedroom door.
“What?” called her husband.
She went inside. He was laying on the bed, watching something on his phone.
“You promise you’ll be careful?” she said with a peacemaking smile.
He sat up. “Of course.”
“Okay,” she said.
When he was done, she lay there, looking up at the ceiling. Pain throbbed between her thighs. He sprawled beside her, sleepy and happy. He stroked her arm.
“I love you,” he said.
♡
“He must think you’re pretty,” the woman said to her crying daughter. She gazed down at her small, wounded face and saw herself when she was a girl.
“He said I’m ugly and dumb,” said the little girl.
“Boys are just like that,” the woman chuckled. “They’re mean to the girls they like.”
Her daughter’s brow furrowed. “He likes me?”
“I think so,” the woman smiled.
Her little girl rested her chin in her hands. “Oh.”
The woman reached out to brush a strand of hair away from her daughter’s eyes.
“He might even love you,” she said.
Comments
Post a Comment