GENESIS
"Yes, Lily, do ballet! It's so fun and amazing, and you get to dress up so beautifully," Daisy said, bouncing in her seat as she looked at me. I glanced at the dancers again, watching them move with such grace. It was beautiful, like they were speaking with their bodies. But it also looked incredibly difficult. Daisy called it "fun," but I had a feeling this kind of dance wasn't to be underestimated. The way their legs moved so high... I was amazed.
But my mind wasn't fully on the decision about which class to choose. My eyes kept gravitating toward the bruise on Kieran's face. And it wasn't just that—he had bruises on his wrists too, like he'd slammed them against something. The one on his face looked like he'd been hit.
What happened?
He'd gone to work hours ago and now came back like this.
He turned away from the iPad in his hands and looked at me. "What do you like...?" His voice trailed off as I pressed my hand gently against the injury, and he smiled softly.
"What is it...?" He leaned into my touch, as though pretending he didn't know exactly what I was asking about.
I pressed a little harder on the bruise, silently asking without words. But Daisy noticed too.
"Uncle Kieran, Genesis is trying to ask about where you hit your face... you've got an injury there."
Kieran gave Daisy a crooked grin. "You two are quite the team, huh?"
But I didn't smile. I couldn't. My fingers remained on the bruise, as if they could read the story beneath his skin. Maybe if I touched it long enough, he'd finally tell me the truth.
He sighed, setting the iPad down and gently taking my hand in his. His skin was warm, but the bruise under my fingers still throbbed with an unanswered question.
"It's nothing serious, kitten. Just a minor... disagreement at work."
I tilted my head, not buying it. My eyes shifted to his wrist. There were red, angry marks there too. And then back to his face. One bruise doesn't mean "nothing." I knew that. I knew it all too well.
He leaned in and kissed my temple, as if that would make me forget. "Don't worry, I didn't lose."
"But did the other person?" Daisy asked, her voice small but curious.
Kieran gave a little smirk. "Let's just say he won't be visiting anytime soon."
I didn't move. My heart pounded in my chest, and my fingers felt cold. I grabbed the notebook from the table and quickly scribbled:
WHO WAS IT?
I held it up to him.
He stared at the words for a moment, his jaw clenching. Then he rubbed a hand over his face. "It's not someone you know. Just a nobody. And this was one of those times I had to remind someone who I am."
I stared at him. I didn't understand what that meant. Why did reminding someone have to involve bruises?
He let out a breath and gave me a tired smile. "I'll be more careful, alright?"
Daisy wiggled in her seat beside me. "Okay, now can we go back to picking a class? Because ballet is waiting for you, Gen!"
I smiled a little, just for her. But my eyes stayed on Kieran. Watching. Trying to figure out what he wasn't saying.
He slid an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer.
"Let's find you something you love, kitten," he whispered, his voice soft but sincere. "Something that makes you feel free."
And just like that, the iPad was back in his hands, but my thoughts were still tangled around the bruises. And that smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
An hour later,
"You do know I'm not going to die or fall ill from a bruise, right?" he murmured, his hand tracing slow circles around my waist.
I didn't answer. My hand was still gently caressing his face, absorbing the warmth of his skin like it could erase the pain he'd felt.
I know that... but still.
It wasn't just a feeling anymore. No—it was certainty. I knew it was someone I know who did it to his face.
"Look at me?" he whispered.
I didn't. Instead, I took his hand and ran my fingers over his bruised knuckles, my heart squeezing with quiet fury.
Why do they always find a way to hurt me?
"Look at me, baby," he said again, firmer this time. There was something in his tone—commanding, but gentle—that left no room to disobey. I lifted my eyes to his.
"Shit... why do you look like you're about to cry? I'm fine. I promise I won't get hurt again," he said, his hand sliding to the back of my head and drawing me closer.
"I promise," he repeated, his voice low and raw. "I fucking promise you, I will not get hurt again."
Then he leaned down and kissed me. Soft. Reassuring. Real.
"So don't cry."
I blinked away the tears and gave him a small smile.
He smiled back, and we laid there, wrapped in silence that somehow spoke louder than words. But then his hand slid down to my ass… and moved lower, between my thighs.
I shook my head immediately.
He sighed. "But I'm fine, kitten. I can still have sex."
I laughed silently, burying my face in his chest as I gently pushed his hand away.
"Ahhh, that's not fair."
Life's not fair, I thought. But I didn't say it.
Instead, I let sleep slowly pull me under. And in his arms, there were no dark rooms. No screams. No memories of the torture I had endured. Just peace.
****
Two days later
"Are you sure you really want to do this, and not just because Daisy wants it?" Kieran asked, his voice tinged with concern. I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest, and looked down at the duffel bag in my hands—it was packed with everything I'd need.
"There are other activities you could try," he continued, his voice softer now as he brushed a lock of hair from my face. "Painting, sculpting, gymnastics, even music... or singing classes, though I know how you feel about that last one." He gave me a knowing look, but I didn't flinch.
"You could do swimming, martial arts, or even join the drama club. Anything that makes you feel confident and happy. You don't have to do ballet just because Daisy loves it."
I clutched the duffel bag tighter and looked up at him, determination in my eyes. I wasn't doing it just for Daisy.
I wanted to feel elegant, too.
I wanted to move like I wasn't broken.
I wanted to feel free.
"I want to try," I mouthed. He sighed, offering me a soft smile.
"Then try, kitten," he said, leaning in to kiss my forehead gently. "And if it's not for you, we'll find something else. No pressure."
I glanced down at the materials in my bag. Daisy had told me the names for everything—leotards, leg warmers, wrap skirts, ballet flats—and even a hairnet to tie my curls into a neat bun. Everything was soft pink, white, and light gray, colors that looked gentle, like they belonged to someone softer than me. Someone who hadn't seen the things I had.
But maybe that was the point.
Kieran squeezed my hand once, then let go. "Come on. I'll walk you in."
The building smelled like wood polish and lavender, the scent mixing with faint classical music drifting down the hallway. Mirrors lined the walls, reflecting the soft thuds of feet landing on marley floors as we passed.
"Class will be over in two to three hours," he said, his voice a steady comfort. "I'll come pick you up. Don't leave by yourself or with anyone else."
I nodded quickly, my heart pounding louder with every step. Kieran kissed my knuckles before letting go. "You've got this, kitten."