Parents

Four Years Ago

"Son, can you come into the other room, please? We want to talk." A feminine voice called out to Belle from the other room. He had just turned eighteen and was currently in his room looking up different internet ghost stories. He was lucky to be born into his family; his parents were their town's leaders, which gave him a life of comfort. He knew he was more privileged than others, so he always took the time to help if someone needed help.

"Coming!" He called out. His eighteenth birthday was exciting, as he was now an adult. He planned to find a nice college to attend and make some friends, hopefully making his parents proud along the way. He shuts off his laptop and rushes out to the living room. His parents are already there and sitting on the couch, so he plops down on the recliner.

"What's this about? Are we going somewhere?" He asks them. His mom sounded serious, maybe it was something about his adult responsibilities now.

"No…we just wanted to talk to you about your grades." His mom starts.

"Agh, not this conversation again, I passed all my classes, remember? My grades were fine." Belle tells her. He was sick of having this argument, he didn't think having good grades was all that important when he passed his classes. 

"Your grades were not fine! Barely getting by, we expected better of you." His dad says disdainfully, making Belle shrink down a bit. He didn't mean to be a bother to his parents, but he didn't think it was that important to get the best grades when it wasn't his passion. 

"Look, we just want you to succeed in life, that's why we had a talk with old man Jeff and he agreed to a matchmaking event between you and his daughter, she's a successful doctor in the city." His mom explains. 

"What?" Belle questions, he doubts he heard her right. There's no way they were trying to marry him off, not only that but Jeff's daughter was twenty-six years old. 

"Son, you leave us no choice in the matter, it is clear from your grades you won't amount to anything, it's better for us if you get married to a successful person." His dad cuts in harshly.

"No! That doesn't make any sense! I was going to try and go to college, you know that college is different from high school, I could focus on what I like more there and get better grades!" He argues.

"The decision has been made and you will get married in a few days." His dad says coldly.

"You can't be fucking serious!" Belle shouts, rising out of the recliner.

"Language! Go to your room young man and don't bother coming out until the wedding!" His dad orders, delivering a quick slap to his face. The action leaves him speechless and he obediently heads to his room and collapses on the bed. His parents had been strict before yes…but they had never slapped him. Nothing can stop the tears from flowing down his face as he cries bitterly into his pillow.

A few days later, it was the night of the wedding and he was having dinner with his parents. They were seated around the table but nobody was talking, the atmosphere was frigid, and no warmth seeped through the cracks. 

"Please, I don't want to get married," Belle begs, breaking the silence.

"I don't want to hear it!" His dad shouts, shoving down his silverware onto the table, and making a loud clacking noise. Belle flinches at the sound but he brings his eyes up to stare at his father steadily.

"You know that I don't want to be in that kind of relationship with someone, I've told you before I was aromantic! You said you supported me!" He yells out, fresh tears pricking his eyes. 

"Sigh, you know we don't believe in all that nonsense you young people come up with sweetie, can you please just do this one thing for us? It would make Mommy very happy." His mom reaches over the table to grab at his hand but he pulls it back. 

"I didn't want to do this, but I'm eighteen now, I don't have to follow what you say anymore, I'm an adult." He tells them coldly. 

"If you want to think that way, then get out. If you won't follow our instructions, then leave." His dad replies. 

"Fine! Just let me pack my stuff." Belle gets up to head to his room but is stopped by his dad's hand on his wrist.

"No, you leave now, you're the one being difficult you don't get the luxury of having the stuff we bought for you." 

"Whatever." He breaks free from his dad's pull and stalks toward the front door.

"Ungrateful child." His mother curses.

"More like ungrateful parents!" He shouts over his shoulder.

"Just get out of here! I never want to see you again!" His mother shrieks. 

That night he left home with only his phone and a bit of money he had on him. He took the bus to the city and stayed in a hotel, getting a job the next day, a place that didn't ask too many questions. He managed to test into a college and was granted a scholarship and made some friends there, slowly healing from the wounds his parents opened, but those wounds never fully closed.

Memories of the night he left swirl in his head and he steels his gaze, glaring at his father and mother standing before him. 

"Look, I don't want to see you guys anymore, I'm leaving tomorrow so I'd be grateful if you left me alone." He tries peacefully. 

"Don't be so ungrateful, we took care of you for so long, and yet you tell us to leave?" His mother says spitefully.

"I don't want to hear it, you guys were terrible parents! You were unnecessarily strict and tried to get me to marry someone eight years older than me when I had just turned eighteen. Parents are supposed to love their children unconditionally, so why is your love conditional?" He questions them.

"We just wanted what's best for you." His mother tries to convince him.

"If you wanted what's best for me you would've listened to me, I'm done here." He opens the door and walks inside shutting them out. He takes a few heaving breaths before packing up his stuff.

"Tommy, I'm going to be leaving now, sorry for causing trouble." He says goodbye to his friend.

"It was no trouble at all, you can always come again," Tommy replies. He doesn't question Belle when he sneaks out the backdoor to leave, Belle guesses he heard some of the conversation outside. Within the hour he's on the bus and heading back toward the city.