Page 16 of Schooling Little Sage

“No! No! I’m a good boy!” I cried. “No, Papa! I promise to be good!” I took off running, down the hall and out the doors. I had to hide. Had to get away from him. He won’t hurt me anymore. Never again.

I ran and ran until I was out of breath and collapsed behind a grove of trees. He wouldn’t find me here. He wouldn’t ever find me again. The sobs wouldn’t stop. I didn’t remember being this terrified in my life, but I had to have been. All those times I couldn’t sit for days. The blood tinting the bath water after a beating.

I couldn’t breathe.

I couldn’t think.

I can’t…I can’t…

The last thing I remember was being lifted, a familiar voice softly whispered in my ear. “I’ve got you, babyboy. Ssshh, you’re okay, I’ve got you.”

“Da-Daddy?”

“I’m here, sweetheart, just rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

“There you are.” Warner smiled and kissed my forehead. “You scared me.”

“S-sorry.” How did I get here? Where was I? Was I sitting on his lap?

“Drink this.”

Warner tipped a bottle of water to my lips. Didn’t realize how thirsty I was until I sucked half of it down.

“There”—he set it aside—“how do you feel?”

“Foolish.” It hit me full on. Not only did I have a major panic attack, but I did it in front of Devon and the whole class and ran away like a big baby. “How did you find me? Are they kicking me out?”

“Sweetheart…”

There was that nickname again that made my tummy all bubbly.

“That’s the last thing anyone would do. Wanna talk about what happened?”

Stupid, stupid tears. Warner held me tight as round two hit. “I-I made your shirt all wet.”

“That’s okay. Shirts dry. I’m more worried about my boy right now than any dang shirt.”

Wait, what? “Your boy?” I tried to move my head to see who else was here, but Warner held me tight against his chest.

“Silly boy, that’s you. I was gonna wait to have this conversation until after Devon left, but considering today’s events, I think we need to establish our relationship now. Sage, my sweet, lost Little, will you let me be your Daddy?”

Ugh, why was I crying again? This was everything I wanted, wasn’t it?

Yeah, it was.

Safe. I felt safe with Warner.

“Yes, please.”

He kissed my head again. “Ready to tell Daddy what happened?”

Daddy. My Daddy. My new safe space.

“That stuff scared me. Made me…” Ugh, why was this so hard? “Made me ’member bad times when Papa hurt me.”

Warner’s jaw clenched and his face got all mad. “I can promise you that no one will ever hurt you again.”

“Why did the teacher show us that bad stuff? I’m a good boy.”