章 24: Tensions (8) Truth

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting warm hues across the hospital room, Charlie's presence provided solace to Chloe and Mr. Chad. With evening's arrival, he knew it was time to depart, his heart heavy with the weight of their shared struggles. Gently, he bid farewell to Chloe and Mr. Chad, promising to check on them daily.

Stepping out of the hospital, Charlie's determined footsteps echoed his renewed resolve. He walked home with a mixture of emotions and determination stirring within him. Armed with the promise he made to Chloe, he braced himself for the inevitable clash with Madam Gizel and Steve, prepared to confront their hostility, head–on.

As Charlie entered his house, he found Madam Gizel seated at the dining table, her gaze fixed on him, a calculated attempt to unsettle him. But this time, Charlie was resolute, his fear replaced by determination to stand his ground. "Well, well, why are you hiding?" Madam Gizel's words dripped with arrogance, her manipulative tactics failing to intimidate him.

Charlie's response was unwavering, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and defiance. "Who's hiding , why would I hide?" he retorted, refusing to be belittled. "I've done nothing wrong. I'm no slave or criminal."

Madam Gizel was taken aback by Charlie's unwavering response. Her attempts to silence him were met with defiance. A Charged silence enveloped in the room as Charlie's gaze locked into hers. He refused to be intimidated, boldly asserting "Am I a slave." His declaration that the house was his father's further solidified his refusal to be belittled.

Steve attempted to come to his mother's defense, but Charlie's patience had worn thin. "You can't speak to my mother like that. It's disrespectful," Steve admonished. Charlie's anger surged in response, the floodgates of withheld thoughts about Steve finally opening. "Oh really, Steve?" he replied, a bitter chuckle escaped Charlie's lips. "I didn't expect you to comprehend respect. Considering the fact that you're a mummy's boy, wandering aimlessly with your mother day in and day out, only returning to play video games without even thinking about building a life for yourself."

Charlie's words struck Steve with a sting of truth, his façade of complacency cracking. But Steve fought back, using hurtful words as a shield. "And what about you?" Steve retorted. "Writing absurd lyrics in an old book, playing princess?" The words were designed to wound, and Charlie's heart clenched at the impact.

Unable to contain his anger any longer, Charlie exploded, his words lashing out with a vehemence he had suppressed for too long. "I won't waste time arguing with the likes of you," he spat, pointing at Madam Gizel and Steve. "You're both just envious ." The venom in his words ignited a firestorm of anger in Madam Gizel, prompting her to retaliate.

But Charlie had had enough. He turned his back on them and retreated to his room, shutting the door behind him. Alone in the confines of his space, he grappled with the whirlwind of emotions that had consumed him. Fueled by rage and sorrow, he tore the golden ticket—a symbol of shattered hope—and sang a song filled with his distressed emotions.

And as the melody faded, the chapter concluded, leaving Charlie in solitude, grappling with his vulnerabilities and newfound strength. It was a pivotal moment in his journey, a testament to his ability to stand up against adversity and claim his rightful place in a world that had underestimated him for far too long.