• CHAPTER TWO
    I walked inside the house and up the stairs. I walked pass mom and Gerald’s –old, disgusting Gerald- room, and Ben’s room but stopped in front of the room that belonged to the one person that I feared the most.

    Matt’s door was covered in a bunch of Keep Out stickers and band signs. I felt the cold air flow outside beneath the crack so I figured he’s inside. I placed my hand on the doorknob and wondered if I should go inside. I opted against it. I always did.

    I went to my room and sat on my bed in the dark. I thought about Matt and about what I might’ve done if I had gone inside. Wake him up and ask him why was he acting the way he was? Ask him why, after years of being inseparable, he suddenly began ignoring me? Ask him why I could go days without seeing or hearing about him despite the fact that we live in the same house? Ask him if, perhaps, it was something I did? I sighed and began to cry. It was something I did… but what? I’m pretty sure it was. I wiped my tear as another one fallowed. I missed Matt. I missed my little brother. We used to be so close and then suddenly, one day, he began ignoring me. At first I thought I was imagining things but then it became noticeable… but more than noticeable, it became unavoidable. I shook two Metformin from their bottle and swallowed them with two swigs from my glass of water. I placed them next to my phone, which was charging, and set my alarm clock. I turned off the lamp and laid down on my bed. I looked at my roof and tried to find my sleep and failed. I sighed and closed my eyes. I thought about James and how I love it when he kisses me. I thought about the day mom told me and Ben to pack our things because we were leaving dad. I thought about school and how much I loved football. And slowly, very, very slowly, my thoughts diverted to Matt. Matt, the brother whom I loved. Matt who, despite being the son of the vilest most disgusting man on earth, was once the most important person in my life. Matt, the man on the other room. Matt, the one who saved my when I was five years old. And with that single thought, I fell asleep.

    I began thinking about the night he rescued me. A year after I was born mom had left dad, gotten remarried with Gerald, and given birth to Matt. I never really liked Gerald. I guess I was still hoping mom and dad would get together again but years passed and hopes faded.

    I was five and Matt was four. It was October and a terrible storm had taken place. Ever since I could remember, I’ve been deathly afraid of the sound of thunder. That night was no different. I was in my room, under every single available sheet and pillow in the entire house, trying to block out the sound. I was crying loudly but the thunder drowned my screams. I would’ve gone to Ben if he hadn’t been out camping with dad. I scurried out of my room and into mom’s and cuddled between her and Gerald. I closed my eyes and tried to focus in the barely-there-hum of the air flowing out of the air vent and Gerald’s light snores. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves and suddenly, I felt a cold, rough hand creep up my nightgown and below my underwear. I yelped and my mom shushed me and turned away. Afraid, I glanced over at Gerald. His face showed no expression and he had stopped snoring. I shook his hand away and closed my eyes. A few minutes later, his hand reached again.

    I was so confused. I knew something was wrong. I felt so uncomfortable. My dad once told me that my body was mine and only mine and that the only person allowed to see it was the man with whom I chose to spend the rest of my life with, the man whom I loved deeply. Was Gerald that man? I didn’t love Gerald. I shook my mom and told her in hushed whispers what was happening. She waved her hand dismissively and fell asleep. Immediately I was frightened beyond belief. I climbed out of bed and dashed out of the room but once in the hall, a thunder, so loud it shook the house, reverberated and I fell instantly on the floor in shock and fear. I covered my ears and leaned against the wall breathing hard. I looked around for an escape and all I saw was the door to the bathroom. I crawled over and locked myself inside. I sat on the bathtub and hugged my knees as the raindrops crashed against the window like bullets. I tightened my eyes as I heard a thunder prepare.
    “Jay?” I yelled but the thunder blocked my sound. I looked up and saw Matt standing in front of me. He got in the tub with me and slid his hand around my torso and hugged me. “Why are you crying?” I looked at him.
    “Matt, I’m scared.” He stayed silent for a minute and after another thunder shot, he grabbed me and pulled me up.
    “Hurry before the next thunder sounds.” We went to his room and he sat me on his bed. He hurried to his toy trunk and began looking frantically for something. I heard once again the low rumble that came before a thunder.
    “Hurry, Matt, hurry.” I began to shake. Matt pulled an old CD player from the trunk and gave me the headphones.
    “Put them on.” He mouthed. He switched it on and as soon as the thunder hit, I was already drowned by the soothing sounds of music. Sweet and soft music. I looked up at him, he smiled. He sat next to me and we lied down.

    I thought about what had happened inside mom’s room. I thought about Gerald and immediately I shook in fear. I began to cry. I couldn’t believe he’d touch me. I felt so uncomfortable. Never had I felt so frightened about someone in my entire life. Matt sat up and asked something. I took of the headphones and wiped my tears.
    “What’s wrong, Jade?” I sighed and told him what had happened. I told him how afraid I was of him. He sat there and listened. I saw his face twist into anger towards his father. “He can’t do that. Girls aren’t supposed to be touched. They are made out of glass so… so they are fragile.” He said. “He shouldn’t make you cry.” I nodded. “Don’t worry, Jade.” I looked up. “I’ll protect you… forever… I promise.” I smiled. He’d be there for me forever.

    Or so I thought he would.