blondexhurricane​:

Delia noted how Teddy’s smile seemed to
fade faster than the bruises that covered a
portion of her skin when the taboo topic of
returning home was brought up. Maybe it
wasn’t the best of ideas, but she was tired
of living in limbo. Were her parents on the
dark and twisted road to divorce, or was it
worth it to cling to the last threads of hope
that were still left, despite the fray?

                “No, don’t say it. If you’re going to try and tell me that
                it’s over, I don’t want to hear it. I mean, you and Dad
                used to love each other so much. That type of love –
                it doesn’t just go away for good. …does it?” It was as
                unhealthy as it got, but each time Henry apologized,
                Delia was quick to believe and forgive, desperate to
                keep her family together for as long as possible.

“I can’t keep you safe,” Teddy said quietly. “Not
while he and I live under the same roof. If I’m the
thing that ignites his anger, then I’d be the better
person for removing myself from him.“ But did 
she truly believe that? Her words said one thing,
but her thoughts said another — a voice silent
to all but herself. Yet, in the wake of these lonely
nights, it were her thoughts that killed her. 

                She  didn’t  want to leave him. Henry  —  her Henry,
                whom  she’d  never thought would lay a hand on her 
                — she wished more than anything for his open arms.
                Could it be more than wishful thinking? Teddy didn’t
                have any more room in her heart for hope, for all the 
                hurt  that  she  carried  along  inside  of  it. It left her
                wondering — how much more of his anger and lies
                would it take for her to finally give up on him?