Joseph stared around his room. It was how he left it; perfectly blank. His bed was put together perfectly and barely anything was on his bookshelves. Eddie his cat lay curled up on his bed. Eddie picked his head up. His pale yellow eyes blinked and he meowed quite loudly for Joseph to pick him up.
Eddie was about a year old and Joseph rescued him from the streets when he was 8 years old. It was on his father's good day so he got to nurse Eddie back to being healthy. Joseph walked over and picked him up and let Eddie's front paws rest on his shoulder.
The door opened behind him and he turned around surprised. It was his mother. Not biological but still his mother. "Your siblings are going home with Marc. Be ready for dinner." Her voice was cold as her face platonic. She left the room and his heart sunk
It was always better with his siblings here. Of course he didn't take them with him. He stared at grey dresser. It was filled with plain black and white dress clothes. He changed into a black dress shirt and black skinny jeans. He brushed out his hair and pulled it up into a tight bun. He yawned; jet lag starting to hit him. He took out his ear piercings and hid them away.
He stood up and stared at his reflection in a mirror hanging on his wall. Joseph's eyes were bloodshot and cheek had a massive bruise on it. His lip was swollen and his neck had scratches on it. He looked at his pale face and mentally sighed. His dad didn't like any of his siblings; but hated Joseph the most because his mother wanted to see Joseph as the last person.
Joseph had watch her smile and he closed had her eyes. His dad had resented him for it and he made sure that Joseph knew that. He ran a hand along the side of his face and Daniel came into his room. "Mr. Byrne, dinner is ready." Joseph nodded and thanked him. Daniel's heart hurt watching Joseph's slumped shoulders straighten; to not get reprimanded for slouching while he walked to the dining room.
Joseph sank into his chair and quietly ate as his mother and father talked about plans for summer. "Boy answer your mother." His father said and Joseph's head shot up. He mumbled an apology; he had been ignoring both of them trying to get through dinner without a problem. "I said, are you dating any girls?" She said and Joseph mumbled "No I'm gay."
They knew he was gay and still refused to accept him. "Don't say that word in this household boy." His father hissed and Joseph slouched in his chair. The help were listening and they always treated with respect; even if he was snappy with them they knew he wasn't mad, just frustrated.
"Milly COME HERE." His father barked and one of the newer help scurried in the room. "Yes Master Byrne?" She asked. "You grab Joseph and put him in the room." He said waving his hand. Joseph stiffened and stood up. "Yes Sir." She said and grabbed his arm. He winced and she loosened her grip.
Once they were out of sight she let go of him and whispered "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Over and over before Joseph stopped her. "It's fine. Just don't piss him off." He said cracking a tired smile. She nodded quickly and he opened the door to the closet. He was always put there as a punishment since he was claustrophobic and his father quickly learned putting him in the basement was not enough. She locked the door and he slid down the door.
His heartbeat sped up as he sat in the dark; hugging his knees to his chest. Tears slowly started to run down his cheeks as he finally let himself go. His sobs were heard by the help and they exchanged worried glances. They knew their young master to cry but not as loudly as he was now.
His parent just ignored him and continued eating. When there was a knock on the door; his mother went to answer it while his father walked toward the closet. He opened the door and Joseph fell on the floor. "Shut up and pretend your happy brat." His father said and Joseph rubbed his eyes. He looked like he was 12 again when his mother first died; his eyes puffy and bloodshot. He ran upstairs and quickly put on makeup to hide his appearance.
When he got downstairs his jaw dropped. Marc was yelling at his father and Daniel pulled him aside. "He just got here-" He was cut off when Joseph's father pushed Marc out of the house; stunned when we caught a glimpse of Joseph. Joseph yelled and Daniel held him back. His mother locked the doors while Marc pounded on the door.
His father grabbed him and dragged him to the closet. "You stay in there and think about how you have ruined my perfectly nice evening." He barked and shoved him in there. Joseph heard the click on the lock and a key turning. His breath hitched and he heard yelling outside in the hallway. Marc's desperate voice was loud and broken.
Joseph tried to call out but he couldn't find his voice. Everything started becoming blurry as his eyes filled with tears. He sunk against the door and his body started shaking with quiet sobs. Marc yelled again but everything was becoming distant to Joseph. He heard a banging on the door and someone pulling at the locks.
His father's smug voice rang out and said. "He's fine. You can see him back at school like everyone else." Marc cried out banged on the closet door once more before falling silent. "Go Marc. He's fine." Joseph's mother said softly; a blatant lie. Marc shook his head and slouched his shoulder walking out the door knowing he could do nothing.
The five days passed and Joseph was not let out of the closet unless he had to go to the bathroom. He did the first night but after that he had no food left in him. He was curled up in a ball when the door opened. His father told him to get up. His stuff was already packed and he was herded to the car. They drove the two hours to the school in silence.
Joseph grabbed his suitcase from the trunk and trudged into the school. His shirt fell off him and he had tightened his belt to the max so his pants wouldn't fall down. Some student gasped; used to seeing him happy. He sighed and finally got to his dorm room. He slowly opened the door and saw that Marc was their talking with Marie and Lilly quietly.
His eyes widened when he took his Joseph's gaunt figure and stood up, tripping over his own feet to get to him. "J- Joseph.. i tried to." H was breathless and his eyes raked Joseph's distant eyes. Marie and Lilly gaped staring at his figure. Marie quickly called Milo and yelled on the phone for him to get here immediately.
Marc pulled Joseph's shivering figure into his arms and Joseph started quietly crying. He hiccuped and his sobs became louder. Marc lowered him to the floor and held him in his arms. Milo came in running and Rosie followed confused. He whispered to Marie and Lilly comforted Rosie who was on the verge of tears seeing her normally strong brother like that.
Marc softly whispered in Joseph's ear and started humming to him. Slowly Joseph's breaths returned to a normal rate and he stopped crying. Marc just took in how malnourished Joseph was. Marie went to get food for him and Milo went to get a nurse. He wiped his eyes and smiled weakly "What a way to start the semester yah."He whispered and Marc smiled at him.
Milo came back with a nurse and she pulled him onto a bed ran some tests. "He's ok. He has obviously been through worse; his body was able to sustain itself by sleeping for days without eating. Essentially he hibernated; like a bear." She explained. He nodded with her and she patted his leg. "Just slowly introduce him to food again and he will be alright. His body needs to know that there will be food again. Although when he came to us before the break he was about this weight." She finished and left the room.
Marc turned to Joseph. "What does she mean you were about that weight before the break. We went to the indoor pool and you looked healthy." He said and Joseph nodded sadly. "Simple glamour. I have had to fool people before. Scales don't lie though. I have gone a lot longer than five days without eating." He said and smiled sadly.
Milo nodded. "Dad once kept him in the closet for a month. I don't know how he survived. He always brought him out, made him eat, and then a few days later he would put him back in for another month. This happened right after mom died. He needs a lot longer to recover." Milo answered asking the unspoken question. Rosie nodded.
A soft meow was heard and Joseph sat up. "Eddie?" He questioned and the fat grey and white cat came out of hiding. "Oh right. This little guy ran down the stairs and got out. We caught him." Marc said sheepishly as Eddie jumped onto Joseph. He purred and curled up on lap. "Thank you so much." Milo whispered to Marc and he herded Rosie,Lilly, and Marie out. Marc sat beside Joseph.
"So your telling me your father was making you anorexic?" He asked and Joseph shrugged. "Yeah he was. Though experts call it neglect." He answered and pet Eddie. "Ok but how much do you weigh?" Marc asked and Joseph looked at him. "96 pounds." He whispered and Marc looked shocked. "Jesus Christ your 6'2 you should weigh at least like 150 pounds." He said and Joseph nodded "I know. Can I just sleep." He answered and leaned against Marc closing his eyes. Marc sighed in defeat and Eddie got off him to let Marc wrap him in a blanket and then jump on Marc to sleep with the two of them.
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