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Sirens

Shallow

"Sunny, babe, you ready for preschool?"
My four year old daughter smiled at me, showing off the dimples she'd gotten from her father. "Yes!"
I laughed, though the very sight of her hurt. She looked so much like her father. I gave her the best smile I could before getting out of my car, walking around to her side. "I'll be back later, okay baby?"
Sunny nodded enthusiastically. "Okay. Love you!" she took off running, giggling as I jogged after her.
"Not so fast, darling. I need to talk to Ms. Kenny," I murmured, cradling her precious face for a second before opening the preschool's door.
The teacher smiled at me as soon as I got in. "Hey..how's everything going?"
She knew about my problem.
He was coming back. I couldn't stop it, and I didn't want it to even happen. Sunny wouldn't be safe.
I gave her a shrug. "I'll be a little late picking her up, that's all. Thank you for the help," I murmured, watching Sunny play with her friends.
So much she didn't know.
So much she didn't understand.
Ms. Kenny laid a gentle hand on my shoulder. "It's going to be alright, Cher. Don't let him get to you, alright?"
I nodded before smiling slightly. "I should go. I'll see you later."
She nodded and turned towards the kids. As soon as I stepped out of the preschool, it felt as if millions of bricks were laid on my shoulders.
Sunny was my world. He couldn't come near her, whether she was his child too, or not.
Especially when he was dealing with drugs. My daughter would not come in contact with that kind of world. It was bad enough I knew what happened - it was bad enough drugs, bad drugs, were even around.
A stressed sigh left my lips as I started my car up and drove home.

I was sure I'd drove to the wrong address at first.
Then I looked at my mailbox. Sunny's drawings were still very visible.
Mummy and Sunny Forever.
I'd helped her spell it. There was no mistaking the fact that it was my home, where his Range Rover was parked at.
My hands shook. I didn't know how to deal with this. I'd never thought he would be coming back, up until a few weeks ago.

Whispers.
Everywhere I went, people whispered and pointed at me.
Even if I had Sunny. My baby.
"I heard he's coming back."
"Poor girl. Doesn't even suspect him to suddenly come back."
"Harry Styles is coming back to town. Keep the children in, lock the doors. I heard he's gotten into drugs again."
I'd brushed them off until Ms. Kenny mentioned it to me. "Do you know where Sunny's gonna stay?" she'd asked.
I'd shaken my head. "No. I don't want to believe the rumours."
"I can stay longer, and keep her until you come back. Rumour has it he's supposed to come Monday."
"So soon?"
"Yeah. You'll be fine, love. Call the police if he bothers you."

Calling the police didn't seem like a good option right now, as I caught movement in my window. I gulped and got out, walking briskly inside.
"You're here."
I hadn't expected his voice as soon as I closed the door. A small squeak left my lips, and I turned around abruptly. "Yes," I whispered. "It is my home."
Harry smirked harshly. "Where's the girl? I want to meet my daughter."
My heart beat picked up. "How do you know about her?" I hissed, narrowing my eyes at him.
Harry rolled his. "I'm not dumb, Cher. Rumours were flying as soon as I left that you were pregnant. With my baby."
Tears stung the back of my eyes, but I forced them down. "She's not here."
"Where is she?"
I suppressed a shiver. "None of your business. You don't care, anyway."
Harry smirked more. "But baby, that's where you're wrong. I want to be in my daughter's life."
"You're a druggie! I'm not going to have my daughter in this kind of atmosphere!" I snapped, waving my arms at him. "You smell like fucking weed and smoke. Your teeth are bad, because of what you did with drugs. Your breath reeks of alcohol."
Harry's eyes went from narrowed to a steady death glare in the matter of minutes. "Shut the fuck up."
I shook my head. "Get out of my house, you monster."
His eyes were almost black from fury. "I said, shut the fuck up."
My fists shook at my sides. "Why are you even here?" I whispered, searching his eyes for an answer.
For the bright green I'd fallen in love with almost five years ago.
For the boy I missed, but wasn't there anymore.
Smack.
I fell to the floor, clutching my cheek. Tears slid down my face, and Harry knelt down next to me. "I'm going to give you one chance to shut up. Your words mean nothing, nothing to me."
I nodded, not wanting to be hit again.
Not like before.

Sunny wasn't intentional.
He raped me. She was the outcome.

"Good. Now, I want something to drink. Not whatever you have in the fridge. Go to the store and buy me some alcohol."
I whimpered. "Harry, I-"
"No."
His voice held so much promise in that one word, a deadly promise, and I shakily rose to my feet. "Okay," I whispered. "But please, don't hurt my daughter."
He smirked at me. "Can't say I'll promise that."
A small, barely audible, cry left my lips as I turned and walked out the door. I wanted desperately to go pick Sunny up from school, but I knew I couldn't.
He would find me.

As I pulled into the driveway later that day, I reached over and grabbed Sunny's hand. "Baby, listen to me," I whispered. "As soon as you get inside, go straight to your room. Don't come out if a strange man tries to talk to you, alright?"
She nodded, gazing at me confused. "Mummy, what's wrong?"
I bit the inside of my cheek to fight the tears. "Nothing, baby. Play with your dolls."
She nodded and gave me a kiss before crawling out of the car and waiting for me to follow her to the front door.
Taking a deep breath, I let her grab my index finger and prayed that he was passed out on the couch as she tugged me to the house.
My prayers seemed to be answered. Harry was sprawled out on the couch, though it was almost too small for his long body. I ushered Sunny to her room and made my way back to the living area.
"I thought I said I wanted to meet her."
I jumped at his voice. "S-she wasn't feeling well."
"Hmm. Entertaining. Bring her down."
I shook my head feverishly. "N-no. I won't let you corrupt her, Harry."
He lifted his head slightly, raising an eyebrow at me. If looks could kill, I'd be six feet under. "Are you defying me?"
My hands shook. "Harry, listen to me. She needs to stay safe."
He laughed, though it held no humour. "Fine. I'll meet her one day though. You can't keep using the sick excuse everyday."
He was right. And from the smirk he gave me, he knew.
"I'm going to have my old friends over for the next few nights. We can catch up on what I've missed since I left."
I nodded, knowing nothing I could say would change that.
"Make sure the cupboards have enough alcohol in them, and I have smokes."
Again, I nodded, my hands shaking from fear.
Suddenly, he was standing in front of me. "Speak when I talk to you," he growled, grabbing my arm roughly.
I gasped. "Y-yes."
He nodded in satisfaction and smirked again, shoving me away. "Go deal with your fucking daughter."
I shivered and walked away, trying to stay strong enough for Sunny.

Two days later, and I was tired of it.
I was scared, Sunny was scared. She didn't understand it, why those strange men were practically yelling at me for drinks.
"Mummy, why can't they get their own?" she'd ask as I tucked her in.
I sighed. "They...baby, try and go to sleep, okay?" was the only reply I could think of.
Hands shaking, I made my way to the kitchen and lit a cigarette, holding it to my lips and watching the men play poker through the windowless window in connecting the kitchen to the dining room.
Harry gave me a look, shaking his head, then continued his conversation with the men.
I took a deep breath and grabbed my phone from the counter, rushing into the hall. I dialed a single number, holding the phone to my ear with shaking hands. "DEA, what seems to be your emergency?"
I took a shaky breath. "Drug abuse. Please, help," I whispered, sliding down the wall and holding my knees to my chest.
"What is the address?"
"109 East Gilmore Street."
"Help is on the way."
I barely had time to whisper a Thank you before the woman hung up. Standing, I stared at the wall in front of me for a second before springing into action.
I grabbed a duffle bag from the closet and shoved all the drugs into it. I could faintly hear sirens in the background.
I dropped my work and rushed to Sunny's room. "Baby, baby, wake up," I whispered, shaking her gently.
She looked up. "M-mummy?"
A tear slid down my cheek. "Stay in here, no matter what, okay?"
She nodded. "Mummy, what's happening?"
I took a deep breath. "Mummy's going to make the bad guys go away, baby."
She sighed and grabbed her favorite teddy before curling up tightly on her bed. I kissed her head, and seconds later, I heard a loud bang.
"Hands in the air, all of you! Get your hands in the air!"
I shook and ran out of Sunny's room, into my own, and grabbed the drugs. Within seconds, I was in the backyard and dumping the contents into the burning barrel. I stood back, poured gasoline on it, and lit it on fire, a grim expression taking over my features as I listened to the commotion in the house behind me.

Lay down here beside me in the shallow water,
Beside me where the sun is shining on us still..
Lay down here beside me in the hallowed water,
Beside me where the silver lining stays until..
The sirens' calling.