Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Every day
was walking on eggshells; Monday felt her mother was overtly nice to her one
minute, but then ignore the next. Dion kept a watchful eye on her, and because
of it, Monday never tried to be alone with him. Monday missed the days with
Ezra: that wasn’t prison, this was.
What made
things worse was that everything that Monday saw reminded her of Alyson. She
was limited to the house, only thing Monday was thankful about being grounded
was not having to see the empty house, but things inside brought her back.
Everywhere she looked she saw Alyson: at the table doing homework, in her room
picking out outfits, in the living room watching TV. Everything was a living
reminder.
After a
week of being home, things had not gotten better. Monday couldn’t sleep over
thoughts of Alyson. She also began to worry about the Nightlings to: did Ezra
worry about her? Was Bo okay? What was Marcus going to do to them for letting
her go? She wanted to call him, but she was banned from the phones. Her family
made sure that all ties to Syringa were cut.
March ended
and April began. The Lilacs would be in bloom, Monday thought to herself over
dinner that night. Syringa in spring would have been lovely to see, Monday
remembered the cake in Ezra’s window and it made her miss him even more.
“Something
wrong?” her mother asked. Monday’s mind jerked back home to Larkspur and shook
her head. Her mother gave her a sad smile, “this has been a bad last few months
but things are going to get better. Now that you’re adjusting, you might be
able to go back to school soon.”
“The
volleyball team has missed you,” Dion said: he was the couch at her school, the
thought made her sick. “Plus your mother can’t stay home forever. Life needs to
go on.”
Monday
stared at her plate as her family ate together, ignoring her shaking. There was
a feeling boiling up and Monday felt as though she would burst. “Why haven’t
either of you asked how was while I was gone?”
They looked
at her with surprise, like it was such a strange thought. “I mean, I was gone
for two months and neither of you have asked about it.”
Her mother
reached out for her hand, “It doesn’t matter. You back and that’s all that
matters. You just need to move on.”
“But how
can I move on? You haven’t even ask why I did I in the first place, don’t you
care!”
“Monday
enough. You’re upsetting your mother.
“But why
aren’t you asking!”
“Because
you’ve hurt this family enough!” Dion yelled standing up, “You and that friend
of your tore this family to pieces and you expect us to grove at your return.
Oh poor pitiful you.”
“Alyson
didn’t tear this family apart-” Monday started but couldn’t finish. The words
were caught in her throat as Dion glared at her. She turned to her mother and
wanted to tell her everything, but the words wouldn’t come. Her mother looked
frustrated but Monday couldn’t tell at whom.
Monday
could take this anymore. She grabbed her plate and threw it across the room, “I
wish I never had to come back!”
Dion
grabbed her by the throat and pushed her into the wall, holding her in place.
Monday kept eye contact with him, she wasn’t afraid off his because she knew
what would happen next. Her mother stood up and pulled Dion’s arm back, “Stop
it! You’re hurting her.”
“After what
she did to you! Don’t you remember what her friend did to us and now she’s
defending her.”
Her mother
looked down and played with her hands, “Go to your room Monday.”
Monday
didn’t look back as she ran for her room. She slammed the door behind her and
leaned against it. She could hear someone picking up glass and heard Dion’s
soft, sweat voice, “I’m sorry about all of this.”
“It’s fine.
She’s just been through a lot.” There was silence for a moment and then she
heard her mother sobbing, “What am I doing wrong with her?”
Dion didn’t
speak but Monday knew the words that filled the silence, it was the same words
that filled her life. Monday knew she was a disappointment. Monday sighed and
crawled over to her bed. She looked at the picture of Alyson on her nightstand
and wondered, in some parallel universe where Alyson had lived, would this
really be the life she wanted her friend to have? Monday honored her friend by
tending to her grave, but now, miles from her, Monday did nothing honorable.
Monday had made this Hell for herself; Alyson was dead while Dion lived.
Monday went
to sleep that night, with a smile on her face, of what she had to do that
morning.
The next
morning, Monday sat at the kitchen table, eating her cereal and planning what
she wanted to say. Her mother always got up before Dion, she worked the early
shift at the Hospital; she was a nurse. The kitchen was bright in the morning;
the sun was shining through the large windows and reflected off white linoleum
onto the white cabinets. Monday washed her bowl in the sink and started the tea
pot, her mother loved tea in the morning, Monday wanted her to be has happiest
as possible.
A few
minutes later, Monday was surprised that her mother came in, not in pajamas,
but in her scrubs. Her mother looked surprised to see her, “You’re up early.
What are you up to?”
Monday
poured her a cup and tea, “I just wanted to say I'm sorry for last night. Are you
going to work today?”
Her mother
looked guilty, “Lynette’s son sick and she needed me to cover. I know that I
should stay home but-”
“It’s
fine,” Monday said. She took a deep breath and started to feel her heard race,
“I just wanted to talk to this morning.”
Her mother
sat down, and looked at Monday with a caution, “What did you want to talk
about?”
“Alyson,”
Monday said.
Her mother
pursed her lips, “What is there really talk about with her. I’m sorry how
things ended with your friend, but what she did to this family was heart
breaking.” Her mother reached out and held her hand, “I know you miss her but
it’s upsetting to think about what she did.”
Monday
looked down; she not wanting to look her mother in the eye, but she knew she
had to. Monday looked into her mother’s green eyes her own green eyes, and
braced herself. “I lied. I lied about everything.”
“What are
you talking about?”
“On the
stand. After Alyson called the cops and they arrested Dion, and on the stand
when they asked if he’s every abused me. I lied.”
Her mother
looked confused, “What are you talking about Monday?”
“Dion isn’t
the man you think he is, he’s a monster. He’s taken advantage of me for years.
I didn’t say anything before because I was afraid but-”
“This isn’t
funny Monday,” her mother stood up, “I don’t know what lies she was putting in
your head but-”
“She
watched him rape me,” the words rolled out of Monday’s mouth with ease but she
didn’t feel any better, it felt as if one weight had been replaced with
another. “You were working the night shift and Alyson came over. I hide her in
the closest as Dion came in my room. You have to believe, he’s a monster!”
“Stop it
Monday,” Her mother yelled, “Your step-father is a good man, why would you lie
about this?”
“I’m not
lying to you. Why won’t you believe me?” Monday stood up, “I lied and it cost
my friend her life. I’m just trying to make things right.”
“Well
you’re making things worse,” Her mother said, “Whatever you think your
stepfather did is all in your mind, and I don’t want to hear it anymore.”
“Why are
you taking his side? I’m your daughter!”
“What’s going on?” Monday turned around to see Dion standing
in the archway wearing his old gray robe, looking confused. Monday looked back
at her mother who was looking at Dion. Monday felt the go cold, the color drain
from her face and tears coming to her eyes. Monday shook her head, “I’m your
daughter, protect me.”
Her mother
looked at her, but couldn’t see the pain. Her mother just shook her head, “I don’t
have time for this Monday. Work this out with your step-father.” And with that,
her mother grabbed the keys and slammed the door behind her. Monday wanted to
run after her and shake since into her but knew there was no hope. Her mother
would always choose him. Alyson died protecting nothing.”
Monday felt
a hand on her shoulder, her skin crawled. “Everything okay?”
“Fine,”
Monday lied. She heard the car pull out of the driveway, trapping her with him.
Monday wanted tea to calm herself down but she felt him behind her.
“What were
you talking to her about?” he whispered in her ear. Monday didn’t respond. “You
weren’t telling her about our little secret were you?”
Monday
stayed quite, suddenly, Dion jerked her around and pushed her into the counter,
“What the hell were telling her?”
“About
you.” Monday muttered in a low tone, not point in lying. Dion looked livid. He
reached up and grabbed Monday by the throat.
“What did
you tell her?”
“Doesn’t
matter, she didn’t believe me.” Dion smiled. He undid his robe and as the tea
kettle stated to boil.
“It’s not
like you ever fought back.” He said reaching for her pants. Monday pushed him
away as the pot let out a faint whisper, “Stop.” He reached forward again,
“It’s not like you don’t want it you little slut,” He said tightening his grip,
“I’ll teach you right.”
“STOP!”
Monday shoved him off, the kettle whistling in her ear. Dion reached back and
grabbed her by the hair. “Stop fighting you little worthless shit-”
“Don’t
touch me!” Monday said reaching for the kettle. She swung it around and hit him
in the temple, sending him backwards. Monday ran to the door but he pulled her
back. Monday grabbed onto the counter and felt something in her hand, as she
fell. Dion pulled her back to him when Monday swung at his neck. His eyes
bulged as Monday felt something warm on her hand: blood from the knife was now
on her hand.
Dion rolled
over and looked up at his, he tried to reach out by Monday tightened the grip,
“I’m not worthless.” His eyes were wide in fear and Monday vision blurred in a
sea of red, the kettle was still screaming in her mind. Something had broken
inside of her, years of years of emotion was released with every plunge. When
the emotion was gone, Monday felt numb, but kept on. It was just a motion now,
it felt part of her.
When Monday
felt weak and tired she stopped, only did the world come back and a flood of
sound and blood. Monday looked around the once white kitchen and saw blood
everywhere. It was funny somehow; the red was too bright, almost cartoonish.
Monday began to laugh at the sight, but as she turned back to Dion, her cries
of relief, turned to tears of horror. Monday backed up into the counter,
leaving a trail of blood behind.
Sound
seemed to rush back to her. The birds outside and the garbage truck brought her
back to reality, but all Monday could do was stair at the blood. It was
everywhere, on the counters, on the floor, on her, even in her mouth. The
metallic taste was making her nauseous. Panic seeped in. Her mother would be
home in a few hours, then what?
Then a new fear
creped in, the vision of her with black eyes and wings came back. Monday pulled
herself up, slipped in the blood, and reached for the phone. Her fingers
fumbled with the number, and as the phone rang, Monday watched Dion, hoping he
would more, but his body laid eerily still.
“Bourne
Bakers, where we’re Bourne to bake, Ezra specking.” A huge relief washed over
her as she started to cry, “Ezra!”
“Monday!”
He asked. There was a loud crash on Ezra's end, “Shit, I dropped my butter
cream. Are you alright, what happened?”
“I need
your help,” Monday chocked out, “I just killed my step-father.”
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1 comments:
Wow. Didn't see that coming. Hooray for Monday.
Like the tension. I could use a little more information about what Alyson did and what happened before. Feel like I'm groping to understand why her mother is acting like she is.
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