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Caden Ortiz// "Rosa!Your not coming to my house!I don't,I don't want him to hurt you.Listen,he'll hurt me more if your there.As long as your a secret to him,I'll be fine.Just,just don't come over,please.After we eat dinner tonight you'll have to go pick up Spud,Mallow,and Murphy.He hates dogs,if Murph is there it'll make the situation worse." The food the arrived. "Im sorry for yelling at you but,im serious.Your not coming to my house,at all,for the next week,period.No texting or calling me at all.Act like I don't exist,please." He pleaded. |
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Rosa's eyes well up but she nods. "I'll take the dogs" she agrees. "Please be careful" she tells him, kissing him one more time, a long kiss, before leaving out the door. She drives to Caden's house, picks up the dogs and her own stuff, before leaving. She looks at the rearview window at the dogs. "All settled guys?" she asks, sniffling. She then drives out of his driveway and makes her way to her house. |
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Caden Ortiz// Caden kissed Rosa before she left.He then went to get discharged before speeding to his house and cleaning the guest room.Soon the next day rolled around and his father banged on the door. "Hello father,im glad to see you again." His dad walked in and sighed. "Your worthless.Your house is only woth 400k?Cheap.You could've done better." Caden swalloed. "Yes,I could've.Follow me to your room." As his father followed him,panic swalloed him.After checking in to make sure the room was fine,he left to his own room to shower and get some sleep.Once he was done showering,he hopped into his bed.It felt off as Rosa,Murphy,Spud,and Mallows were'nt there. "Caden!" Caden sighed as he walked out in his shorts to his father. "There's something in my room you need to see." Caden gave his dad a puzzled look before walking into the room."I don't see any-" Caden gasped as his father wrapped his hand around his throat and urged him into a corner of the room. "Your a dissapointment.Why could'nt you be like you step-sister?!She's making 4 million dollar's a year and your only making 500k?!I hate you." Caden stood taller before shrinking back down out of fear.He tripped and was now on the ground,his father infront of him. "You've always deserved absoulutly nothing!" As the whip cracked against Caden's skin he let out a yelp.However,his father did'nt stop there.He kept on lashing the whip on Caden's skin.His father paused and Caden opened his eyes,seeing the whip glimmer with his blood. "Does that scare you?Or are you the brave and fearless hero you always dreamed of?!" Caden yelped out in pain as his dad dragged his half-conscious self into Caden's bathroom before dropping him and storming out into the guest room.Caden breathed heavily before blacking out due to his wounds on his back. (not me just casually dropping massive pieces of lore XD) |
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(oh, that's alot) Rosa sat on the couch, her hand resting gently on Murphy's head as he lay beside her, the familiar weight of his body grounding her. Spud and Mallow curled up nearby, the comforting presence of her two smaller dogs offering some quiet solace in the midst of her turmoil. She had just walked in the door a few hours ago, feeling a mix of exhaustion and uncertainty, the events of the day still hanging heavily in the air. Leaving Caden’s house hadn’t been easy. His face, desperate and pleading, still lingered in her mind. His father’s looming arrival had been enough to make Caden beg her to leave for the week, to avoid the inevitable tension and violence. Rosa had known it was the right choice. The last thing Caden needed was for her to get caught up in the chaos. But even as she sank into the couch, the silence of her own home felt so much heavier without him there. Murphy, Caden’s dog, looked up at her with eyes full of trust. Rosa hadn’t expected to have him here, but she knew Caden couldn’t have him right now—not with his father around. It was complicated. She loved the big dog, but seeing him here in her space, a constant reminder of Caden’s absence, made her heart ache. Mallow, the Westie, nuzzled her leg with a soft whine, as if to remind her she wasn’t alone. Spud, ever the little fluffball, hopped up beside her with his usual cheerful energy, bringing a small smile to her face. She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of everything settle over her. What was she supposed to do now? Caden needed her, but she wasn’t sure what more she could do—at least for the moment. There was so much uncertainty. She had left once, but would she have to leave again? And what did all of this mean for them, for her future with him? Rosa sighed, giving Murphy a soft scratch behind the ears, the quiet comfort of her dogs providing a little peace. The rest would have to wait. For tonight, she just needed to be here—alone, with her dogs, and the stillness that was both a relief and a reminder of the difficult path ahead. |
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Caden Ortiz// Caden was waked with another crack of his father's whip. "Get up!" Caden got up and went to the kitchen and made his father breakfast to please him.Once his father sat down and was eating,Caden went to his bathroom to put some medical cream on his cuts.His skin hissed as the cream reacted with the cuts causing Caden to cringe.He then put on a loose hoodie to try to hide his cuts. "I'll be back.Gonna go for a run." His dad swalloed before answering. "You better be back here you understand?" Caden nodded before walking out the front door.And running to the Carlos' house.Maja answered the door and Caden just burst into tears. "Caden what's wrong?Your dad's back,isn't he?" Caden nodded while still crying.Maja ushered him inside and made him some tea. "Did he hurt you?" Caden wiped his face. "Yes." He croaked.As he took off his hoodie to reveal his back raw with cuts,Maja gasped. "Come,quick!Here lie down on the table,we'll help your wounds." As Caden lie down on the table he felt a needle prick his neck. "Its just something to numb the pain." Maja,and her son and daughter,Gwen and Treyce,started putting healing creams and oils on Caden wounds.Whenever Maja put a certain oil on Caden's back,the number was wearing off so he groaned in pain. "Shh,I know it hurts but you'll be fine." Maja ashered him. (i love motivation sometimes <3 ) |
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Rosa closed her eyes for a moment, letting the warmth of Murphy's fur seep into her palm. It was the kind of moment she had learned to cherish in the last few months—quiet, grounding, without the need for words. Her thoughts raced, but the dogs’ steady breathing around her kept her tethered to the present. The last few days had been a blur of emotions: the relief of Caden letting her go, the guilt that followed, and now, this emptiness that seemed to stretch before her like an endless road. She had never been good at waiting. It was easier when she was needed, when there was something to *do*, something tangible to focus on. But right now, she wasn’t sure what Caden needed from her, or even what *she* needed from herself. Her phone, which had been silent all evening, buzzed suddenly on the coffee table. Her heart gave a small jolt as she reached for it, half-expecting it to be Caden, but the message was from her sister, Amelia. *Hey, just checking in. Hope you’re doing okay. I know things are... a lot. Let me know if you need anything, okay?* Rosa stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the screen. Amelia always had a way of making her feel less alone, even when Rosa didn’t know how to ask for help. But how could she explain this? How could she put into words the tight knot in her chest, the pull between wanting to be there for Caden and wanting to protect herself from getting hurt in the process? She typed a quick reply, her fingers betraying her thoughts as she tried to keep things light. *I’m okay. Just... one day at a time, you know?* It wasn’t a lie, exactly. But it wasn’t the full truth, either. She couldn’t help the way her heart clenched whenever she thought about the situation Caden was in—his father, the tension, the violence that was always just beneath the surface. She wanted to help him. She wanted to be the person who could fix things. But she wasn’t sure anymore if that was even possible. The thought lingered like smoke in the air. The soft patter of Mallow’s paws brought her back to the present as the small dog jumped up to her lap, looking up with big, pleading eyes. Rosa smiled softly, absentmindedly scratching behind his ears. “I know, buddy,” she murmured, her voice quiet. “It’s a lot.” The phone buzzed again. A second message from Amelia. *If you need to talk, you know where to find me. But if you need space, that’s okay too. Love you.* Rosa stared at the message for a long moment. Her fingers itched to reply, to spill everything she had been bottling up. But something held her back. Maybe it was the fear of being too vulnerable, of giving voice to the chaos swirling in her mind. Or maybe it was the simple truth that she didn’t have the answers—she didn’t know what she needed. After a long pause, she typed back: *Love you too. I’m okay for now. Just... tired.* She set the phone down and leaned back against the couch, staring at the dimly lit room. Outside, the night was quiet, the occasional sound of cars passing in the distance the only reminder that life was continuing on beyond the walls of her apartment. Murphy shifted beside her, resting his head on her knee, as if sensing her internal struggle. Rosa’s hand instinctively moved to his fur again, the rhythmic motion of petting him oddly soothing. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you?” she whispered, even though she knew he couldn’t understand. It was more for herself than for him. The act of offering comfort, even in the smallest way, felt like a small anchor. The weight of the day settled on her shoulders again, but for a brief moment, it was easier to breathe. She wasn’t alone. Not completely. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for now. |
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Caden Ortiz// "Maja,I,my father,he'll kill me.I-I need to go.Thank you." Caden hugged Maja and put his hoodie back on before running back to his house. "Where have you been?!" His father demanded. "On a run." He replied quietly. "No you were'nt." His father's hands wrapped around Caden's neck again and ushered him into the spare room. "Turn your back to me,put your hands on the wall." Caden did as asked knowing his life was on the line.He watched as his dad's hand went up and cracked the whip onto his back,painstakingly hard.Caden yelped which encouraged his horrible father Carlos to whip more and harder.Caden's chest felt tight and his back,unbareable.Tears were uncontrollabe rolling down his face and his lungs seemed as if they were going to suffocate him. Carlos grabbed his face before whipping his cheek and dropping his son,making Caden fall to the ground,holding a hand to his cheek where he was lashed.Caden stared into Carlos' eyes. "I-I used to look up to you.I don't know how though,your a monster." Carlos' looked at him with utter disgust. "And what are you?Your a slumped up kid full of fear and panic.You disgust me." Carlos whipped Caden across the face again,this time,directly on his cheek.Caden yelped as he fell to the ground,chest heaving,eyes flooded with tears and pain.Carlos walked out and locked Caden in the room. Caden lie down on the wood and groaned in pain from his back.Knowing this would happen the next day,he'd have to get over the pain. |
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Rosa sat there for a while longer, the soft hum of the apartment settling around her. The warmth from Murphy’s body, the cool breeze that slipped through the cracks in the windows, the faint scent of rain in the air—it all felt like a cocoon, a temporary shelter from the storm inside her mind. She didn’t know what to do with the mess of thoughts, the aching question of what came next. But tonight, right now, there was a quiet peace to be found in simply existing. She picked up her phone again, hesitating only for a moment before scrolling through her messages. A few notifications from work, a couple of reminders she’d already forgotten about. But there was no word from Caden, nothing since their conversation earlier in the week. She had told him to take his time, to figure things out. She meant it, but that didn’t make the silence any easier to bear. What do you need from me? She wanted to ask him, but the words stuck in her throat every time she reached for them. Part of her feared what his answer might be, that he might tell her he needed nothing, that he needed space, or worse—that he was fine and didn’t need her at all. With a small sigh, she set the phone down again, letting her hand rest on the cool surface of the coffee table. She wasn’t sure if the emptiness in her chest would ever go away, but maybe it didn’t need to right now. Maybe it was okay to just sit with it. “Tomorrow’s another day,” she murmured to herself. Maybe the answer was that simple—just keep moving, even if you don’t know where you’re going. Murphy gave a soft whine, as if sensing her frustration, and nudged his head into her palm, urging her to scratch behind his ears. Rosa smiled again, this time with a little more warmth. The dogs, her constant companions, were more than just pets—they were a lifeline, a reminder that love didn’t always have to be complicated to be real. The room around her felt more familiar now, less like a place to escape and more like a place she could ground herself. Maybe that was all she needed for the moment. To be present. To breathe. “Let’s get some sleep,” she whispered to the dogs, pulling the blanket from the back of the couch and wrapping it around herself. Mallow jumped back down onto the floor, curling up in his usual spot by the window, and Murphy nestled closer against her side, settling into the warmth. She closed her eyes, trying to let go of the weight she was carrying, even if only for a few hours. Tomorrow, she would wake up, and maybe the fog would be a little less thick. Maybe not. But she had to believe it was worth trying to find out. As she drifted off to sleep, a text from Amelia came through again. She didn’t even have to look at the screen to know what it said. I’m here when you’re ready. And for the first time in a long while, Rosa didn’t feel like she was holding everything together alone. Maybe that was enough. For now. |
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Caden Ortiz Caden's father had come in and bound Caden hands to where he could'nt do anything.He could'nt sleep either His life seemed dull - much like a used pencil - and hopeless.All he wanted was Murph and Rosa,sleep,and his father gone.The five days were up tommorow. Caden's body was eventually forced into a sleeping yet conscious state. As morning dawned,Caden's dad came into the extra room before giving him one last whipping and bounding his hands and his mouth.He could'nt speak,could'nt move.But he could hope. The sun was the first thing Caden saw once his dad left.He had managed to open the window slightly. His neighbor,Elizabeth,had seen him in the window and had texted Rosa. *Hey,this is Caden's neighbor.He has asked me to inform you that his father has left and its safe for you to go back to his house.Hi misses and loves you.And also,would you like anything?Like i can bake some stuff or make dinner.This neighborhood knows of his dad and are here for you♥* |
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Rosa had just started to drift off, her muscles relaxing as the warmth of the blankets settled around her, when the buzz of her phone broke through the calm. Her eyes flickered open, disoriented for a moment, and she groggily reached for it, fingers brushing the screen before she even fully registered what was happening. The message from Elizabeth hit her like a breath of fresh air. *Hey, this is Caden’s neighbor. He has asked me to inform you that his father has left and it’s safe for you to go back to his house. He misses and loves you. And also, would you like anything? Like I can bake some stuff or make dinner. This neighborhood knows of his dad and are here for you ♥* Rosa felt her heart do a sharp, unexpected flip in her chest, her hand tightening around the phone. Caden. It was happening—he was free. He was *safe*. And the words in the message, the quiet love wrapped in them, the offer to help, were like a balm for wounds she hadn’t known how to tend to. Her chest ached, but it wasn’t from fear anymore—it was something softer, something like relief. She blinked, trying to keep the rush of emotions in check. This... This was what she'd been waiting for. The moment she'd been hoping for, the one where Caden could finally take a step away from the chaos, from the shadows his father cast. *Tomorrow*—the last day. It was here, just as he had promised. She couldn’t wait to see him. She *needed* to see him. Her fingers hovered over the screen, typing out a quick reply to Elizabeth, her thoughts scattered and spinning faster than she could keep up with: *Thank you so much for letting me know. I’m on my way now. And… maybe some cookies? Or something warm, I’m not picky. I’ll bring food and stay with him. Thanks again. You’ve been so kind.* It wasn’t much, but it was the best she could do in the moment. She didn't even want to think about how much time had passed since she’d last seen him, or how broken he'd sounded the last time they spoke. She didn't want to think about any of that—only about how she was going to be there, for him, with him, for as long as it took. She set the phone down and sat there for a second, just breathing, trying to steady her racing heart. Murphy shifted beside her, sensing the change in her mood. She ran a hand through his fur absentmindedly, her eyes falling on Mallow by the window. "Okay, guys. We’re going to help him. It’s going to be alright," she whispered, the words more for herself than for them. The weight in her chest didn’t vanish completely, but it was lighter now. She had to believe it would be. Tomorrow, she would be there for him—he wasn't alone anymore. Neither of them were. And maybe, just maybe, they could start figuring out what came next. "Let’s go," she murmured, already getting to her feet. |
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Showers Off and On
