Emily was by her mom's today so I had the apartment all to myself which was quite a bit lonely.

It was my day off so I had nothing to do but check over some of my patient's files and make some adjustments to them.

But there's also the fact that I can be called in but I doubt that would happen since it's one out of a million possibilities.

Sitting back in my office chair I swang back and forth as my eyes stared at the ceiling in boredom.

I'd rather be at work. I guess that would be weird to most people but work was where I got to escape from Amelia since she was a work-at-home wife.

But I'm not married anymore.

My phone buzzed catching my attention, immediately I answered not caring who was on the caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Son," his voice gruffed. My body tensed at just the realization of who it was.

My father.

"Oliver are you there?" my mouth struggled to open while my mind fumbled with words.

What should I say?

Why is he calling?

Why now?

"I heard you and Amelia divorced," he announced.

Of course, that's why. But I haven't told him that I and Amelia were splitting because I didn't want to hear his voice or opinions.

"I knew you couldn't keep a woman," he growled.

"Amelia told me herself she wasn't satisfied with you," he continued his tone laced with disgust.

My hands could only be clenched as I stayed quiet listening to my father go on about my failed marriage.

Memories only filled my mind, corrupting the peace I had built over the years I spent away.

Memories of his abuse and control.

______

FLASHBACK

SMACK!

The slap was made as Russell raised his hand higher to slap his son Oliver.

His other hand crumbled the paper of Oliverʼs progress report card while his eyes glared at him in disappointment.

10- year old Oliver's eyes welled up with tears as he stared at his father in confusion.

He had passed all his classes yet his father was angry?

"Oliver, what's this?" Russell questioned pushing the boy's progress report in his face.

He pointed his finger to the only 'B' grade Oliver had gotten which was in math of course because all his other classes were straight Aʼs.

"I-I still passed fath-" Russell's large hand landed against the boy's cheek again seething.

"All A's Oliver! That's all I ask of you!" he growled slapping Oliver again.

"I'm sorry," Oliver cried as his father beat him.

I'm sorry.

_____

OLIVER: Age 16

"Hey, Oliver wanna go down to the park?" Jesse asked. Oliver only shook his head before turning back to his book.

"I have to"

"Study?" Jesse finished his smile as handsome as all his other attributes.

"All you ever do is study man, come with me and guys promise you won't regret it," Jesse grinned making Oliver, heart beat a bit.

Oliver studied because he had no other choice.

"I-I don't-" Jesse frowned staring at Oliver whose glasses seemed a bit too large for his face.

He was cute. Despite him being a little slim.

"Oliver," Jesse asserted.

"Okay," Oliver agreed a small smile appearing on his face.

"Good, let's go!" he grinned ruffling the boyʼs hair.

_____

After that Oliver and Jesse had come quite close and inseparable but of course, Oliver's father had watched them.

Russell watched his son closely when Jesse would come over.

The Little shy glances and smiles.

Immediately he got angry and disgusted by his son and his friend.

So much that he forbid his son from ever seeing or talking to Jesse again.

Jesse, of course, messaged Oliver like crazy, trying to understand why the boy had cut off all contact with him.

But he hadn't understood that Russell had locked his son in his room for days beating and drilling into his head that he could never have a fag for his son.

"You should never like a man!" Russell growled whipping Oliver with his belt.

"I'm sorry!" Oliver shouted his eyes squeezing tight from the pain of the belt bruising his skin.

"I'm sorry," Oliver cried.

______
Age: 20

"You're getting married," Russell announced. Oliver only nodded before going back to his med studies.

"Her name is Amelia she's a friend's daughter don't fuck this up," Again Oliver nodded to Russell liking making him grin in satisfaction.

"Good, as soon as you graduate med school you two will move in and build a family,"

"Okay,"

_____

"Oliver!" Russell yelled.

"Yes, father?" I answered, my voice sounding very strained.

"Go back and beg Amelia to take you back," he ordered. My hands tightened their grip on my cellphone while my face morphed into anger.

"She cheated on me," I replied.

"I can't blame her, you probably didn't satisfy her," Russell barked.

"I'm not getting back with her, that's final," I said immediately hanging up because if I didn't I knew I would cave into listening to him.

My cell buzzed, a text popping up on the screen from my father reading;

"I'll give you a month, if not by then, I'll personally visit you by myself,"

My body trembled a bit at the memories of my father's belt slashing against my skin.

I still have scars.

Which Amelia of course hated and was disgusted by.

"Ew," was her reaction.

I closed my eyes trying hard to get rid of these horrible memories.

They do not define or chose who you are.

You are Oliver Blake.

Remember you control your life now not them.

Be yourself, be you.

_____