Home is where your heart is

You park hastily and rush for the house. You enter and drop your pack.

You hear your mother from the kitchen. "Hey Jesse, dinner will be in a half hour. We all want to hear about your big day."

Fiona gets up from the couch in the living room and trots up to you. Her smile quickly disappears as she sees the condition you were in. You were battered, your shirt in rags. You don't see sympathy or the comforting look you desperately needed right now, from Fiona you only see a rapidly rising anger.

"Who did this?" She asks sternly. "Tell me who did this to you Jesse?"

You knew your mother could provide the succor you were looking for, but there was only one person on your mind. You are beginning to crack, a few tears and sniffles escaping you unbidden. "Where's Elsie?" You gasp.

Fiona's expression softens. "She's up in her room."

Your mother, having heard this exchange, rounds the corner. "Jesse? Oh my god! My sweet little Jesse!"

Years ago it would have been your mother you ran to in a moment like this, but not anymore. You run up the stairs. Leaving your mother confused and Fiona steaming mad behind you. You sprint to Elsie's door and just barge on through.

El was laying on her bed reading a manga. She is startled by your sudden appearance. "What the...!?"

She takes one look and springs up and rushes to you. There are no questions. She just embraces you and you bury your face into her soft shoulder. You finally let loose and begin to cry, to openly weep. Holding you close she strokes and soothes you, she doesn't say a word but just lets you get these bitter tears out of your system. You smelled of piss but she didn't care. She gently guides you to her bed where you sit embraced, her cradling your head on her shoulder and chest as you release all of the stress and fear and anger and indignity of the day gone by.