I knew I did the right thing, but hearing my little sister's broken sobs made me blame myself for every screaming "fuck you" she heard downstairs. I wondered what would've happened if I didn't tell my Mom about Dad... and his other family. Maybe if I kept my mouth shut, we would be happily having dinner now - Shana was going to show off the drawing she made of our family to Dad and we'll be all praise to her little masterpiece. But, who am I kidding? The uttered word was the only thing I can't take back, and I knew these lies and secrets would soon creep in one night and strangle our family photo.
"There, there now, honey. Hold on tight to Mr. Tickles, okay? I'll be right back," I said to Shana after convincing her to loosen her grip on me, placing her on my bed.
"Don't go, Jenna." My little sister was tugging my shirt, holding back her tears.
I kissed the top of her head and smiled. "Wait here."
I tiptoed my way downstairs and heard a glass shatter before reaching the final step. The screams did not lessen.
"Look Karen, we don't have to go through this. Think of Shana, for Pete's sake! She's only five!"
"Are you kidding me? YOU should've thought of our daughters before having an affair! You're a whore, Ronald! You're a whore! Fuck you!"
Mom was throwing everything she laid hands on to Dad. He didn't move and at a split second, Dad saw me at the foot of the stairs.
"You! See what you've done? This is all your fault!"
"My fault? I'm not the one who cheated on my wife and my family! Why don't you just go back to your other family, huh Dad?"
My right cheek stung and it took me half a second to realize that Dad hit me. My own father hit me. I froze in place.
"How dare you, Ronald! Get out of this house! I don't want anything to do with you!" Mom furiously pushed Dad away and stood in front of me like she always does.
Seeing how resolved Mom was, Dad stormed out and smashed the door shut.
"Are you okay, honey? Wait here, I'll go get the medicine kit in the bathroom."
Shocked I couldn't move when Mom left me in the living room. I didn't realize that my right hand was shaped into a fist and it hurt. I took deep breaths to calm myself and then I learned what was that glass that shattered.
Mom threw the picture frame where Shana placed her drawing. On the floor lay Shana's dream of a happy family, with shattered glass surrounding it.
The tensed silence that engulfed the room was disturbed by my broken sobs.
________________________________________
Shattered Glass by KASH
No comments:
Post a Comment