Just Ari: Chapter 7

Instructions

Just Ari- A LGBTQ+ Story TW for this chapter. Viewer discretion advised. Welcome to the life of Ari, a frantic person with a messy life, who somehow manages to get by. A person with bullies, shocking secrets, backstabbing friends, annoying parents, and a life threatening incident? That's Ari in a nutshell. If you also add Ari's gender identity. ----------------------------------------------------------- Some text may be hard to read or cut off, so here is the full chapter text. ----------------------------------------------------------- Have you ever been so sad, that all you do is just cry, and feel worthless, to the point you feel like passing out? Yeah, that was me for a month straight. Let's just say, it was quite a long month indeed... so let me explain. Where'd we leave off? Oh yeah. I passed out. Just a lesson to all the FTMs like me out there, DO. NOT. BIND. WITH. BANDAGES. (please.) It had caused me to pass out, and next thing I know, I'm surrounded by noise, yelling, bright lights, then.... nope, I'm gone again. Finally, after what feels like a longer-than-usual nap, I finally wake up. I pull my crusty eyes open and im in a strange room with medical things all around; cards and flowers are resting on the table across from me. The mirror next to the bed reveals me; but I look like some- -thing from the walking dead. My scraggly and poorly cut hair is messy and all over my face, and my face is bruised and puffy. I have a weird wrap on my chest underneath my-i hate to say it-hospital dress. I am busy peering into the mirror, listening to distant TV audio blasting, along with the wirring of the fan in the room. The room smells like vanilla and baby wipes. I turn my head back to the door. I see my very shocked father standing there, almost as if paralyzed. "Dad?" I say in my groggy, confused voice. He doesn't move for another moment or so, before rushing over and hugging me while crying. "ARI! Oh my goodness, your awake!" I wince from the pain of my head that he is holding so tightly. "Um, Dad, where are we?" I say, clearing my throat. He parts from me but holds my arm and looks pain- fully at me. I glance behind him, and I'm shocke to see Aden standing in the doorway. Wait, is that even.. Aden?? He looks so different! His once messy black hair now has streaks of blue and is cut into a fringe-mullet thing. Like a k-pop idol or something. He is wearing a matching dark blue dress shirt with a black tie and black cargo pants, and Dr. Martens. His hands are stuffed in his pockets. Then everything comes back to me. That horrible day. Of mom, being horrible to Aden. My eyes well up with tears as I cry out to him. "Aden! Are you ok? Mom hurt you!" I cry and he looks scared as he rushes over, not expecting someone lying in a hospital bed, all banged up and bruised, to be so concerned for him. He hugs me tighty. "Shhh, it's okay, it's all okay now. Mom won't hurt us any more." I look up at him and Aden. Geez, the comparison between them is so similar. But before I can even think, I blurt, "Wow, I never noticed how similar you two look." Dad and Aden chuckle and look at each other. "Well, she's as witty as ever" Dad says. This hurts. I'm not a she... but then I remember again.... Did the binding cause me to pass out?! "Listen, Kiddo, it's complicated.. but.." Dad pauses and looks at Aden. He nods his head to the chairs. They sit down and look at me sadly. "Well, your mother is on trial for child abuse. She and I.. are getting divorced." He says. My jaw drops. "Since then, Dad got full custody on us, and I'm dating Jason. Dad supports me, but well... mom doesn't" I swallow the lump in my throat This is a lot to process. But yet, im still happy mom is gone. "And, you passed out on the floor during the argument... sweetie, they found that you had binded so tightly, and it caused some lung restriction.. and your hair... what's going on honey?" Dad asks. My eyes well up again. Aden seems to have a understanding look on his face. "Ari... do you wanna tell us something?" This is my time. I can come out! I don't have to worry about Mom! I can tell them! But then, a doctor bursts into the room. ------------------------------------------------------