BURST OUT

By the time Ian woke up the second time, it was already 8 in the morning.

He stretched his hands and legs, jumped out of bed, he made his way to the bathroom.

He has a face of seriousness and indifference as if nothing can faze him, but the subtle way his eyes scanned the room revealed that he was searching for someone's presence, despite his attempts to hide it.

Muttering to himself "What am I even doing? What does it matter if she is here or not?", Ian walked into the bathroom.

Despite his efforts to appear nonchalant, his pouty demeanor and grumbling tone exposed him as childlike and immature, rather than the composed adult he was attempting to be.

Though it made him even cuter.

As he walked into the bathroom, he pulled out a stool and climbed on it, positioning himself level with the sink. He moved with the skill of someone who had done this many times before.

And he had.

Whenever William had the urge to hit him or feel dissatisfied with Emery he would call him there in Emery's room and beat him in front of Emery trying to get her to feel miserable but the one to feel miserable will always be Ian.

And due to the heavy beating where he couldn't stand up, he had no choice but to stay there from morning to night so from his continuous stay, he was able to familiarize himself with every corner of the room.

The memories of the past flooded back, bringing with them a mix of emotions.

He hated this room for the pain it held, yet at the same time, it was also the place where he first met Browny..... Snowy, the white deer who gave him the warmth and comfort he so desperately sought.

The room held a complicated place in his heart.

Ian pushed the memories aside and began his morning routine. He washed his face, brushed his teeth, and used the toilet. However, as he was about to step into the shower, he realized that he had forgotten to bring a change of clothes.

So he had no choice but to step out of the bathroom and go look for the clothes.

Stepping out of the bathroom, Ian walked towards the closet. As he reached for the door handle, the door suddenly swung open, catching him off guard. He hastily jumped back making him lose his balance.

"Be careful!" a melodious and warm voice cried out in alarm from above Ian's head

"Ah!" Ian exclaimed in surprise as he felt himself falling, but instead of hitting the floor, he was caught in a warm embrace. It was so warm and fragrant that Ian didn't want to pull out from him.

Ian dazedly looked above to find his said mother looking at him in panic. Her eyes were full of concern and pain.

"Ian, how can you be so careless?... No, it's mommy's fault, Mommy should have been more careful. How thoughtless of mommy. Baby, are you hurt? Tell mommy... Ian?" Ian looked at his mother, her glistening eyes and self-reproachful attitude stunned him. Suddenly, he felt his nose stinging and his eyes blurring, and before he knew it, he broke down in tears.

He broke down into pitiful sobs.

Clutching Emery's dress, he threw himself into her arms, letting out all the pent-up emotions he had been holding inside.

The years of grievances and injustices he had suffered flowed out through his tears.

Ian didn't understand why he was crying, but he couldn't seem to stop himself.

Maybe it was the pain and fear etched on his mother's face which he had never seen that acted like a trigger that unleashed the floodgates of pent-up emotions within him that made him unable to hold back his tears.

He was embarrassed but his tears won't stop and his mother's warm and tight embrace only made it hard for him to stop crying.

Emery was startled at first, she turned stiff seeing Ian like that then slowly she relaxed. She picked Ian in her arms, gently rubbing his back trying to calm him.

"Cry...let all the pain and grievances you've been holding inside out. But son, after today, I hope you'll be able to laugh and truly enjoy life," Emery whispered gently, patting Ian's back in a steady rhythm.

She had intended to calm him down but her words only made him cry even harder.

Emery felt helpless but more than that he felt her heart ached for her son.

After crying for a while, Ian fell asleep once again.

His ability to fall asleep again despite having just woken up shows how exhausted he was.

His body was weaker to begin with than other children his age, due to continuous abuse and lack of proper food, and now that he had cried his heart out it must have been exhausting both mentally and physically.

Maybe more mentally, as her little child has more insecurity and darkness bottled up inside him that makes him wary and suspicious at the very sight of the warmth and light.

She had thought she would be able to make everything right once they get out of this hell hole but it seems her son's condition was even more serious than she thought.

Ian crying like this from a slight embrace of hers show how deeply he craved and fear the warmth. He is too insecure but how can a child who has been always neglected and hated all his life feel secure from just a few warm words?

Rather he would be even more distrustful and insecure.

Ian needs a stable environment with a proper family around him who would shower him with love and care that after a time it would be second nature for him to be loved by others.

But at this time frame, it is impossible.

"Son, Mom hopes that when you wake up, you'll be able to leave the past behind and move forward in life. Mom will try her best to create new happy moments so that you will forget those unhappy ones slowly. Mom will give you the best life has to offer from now on. Sweet dreams, my child," Emery said, kissing Ian's forehead.

Just as Emery had tucked Ian inside the quilt, the door to the room burst open.