Carter kneels in front of me and reaches out
to touch my head.
Join
to touch my head.
I recoil. “Don’t!”
Memories flood my mind: the grime–covered hands of strange men touching me.
I throw up.
Carter freezes, unsure of my reaction.
“Rain…”
“Stay away!”
Carter doesn’t know why I am reacting so
violently. He takes two steps back and puts a
<
meter of distance between us.
I feel better when he is farther away.
He calls someone and requests a female
driver.
The terrible memories of the past prevent me
from
thinking about their odd behavior. I just want to sleep.
When we get home, Mom and Dad are here.
Mom’s eyes are red. Dad holds her in his
arms and comforts her. They see me and avoid eye contact.
I ignore them and head to the basement.
- 3.
“Rain, where are you going?!” Mom asks.
I say, “To the basement. I made Lily cry.”
Every time Lily cried, I was thrown in there as
punishment.
Better to walk down there myself than be
dragged and hurt.
“The basement is no place for a human!”
Mom snaps.
<
I stare at her.
Mom pales. She falls back into the sofa.
Carter says, “You did nothing wrong. And
you’re claustrophobic.”
I respond, “I got over it.”
Carter’s eyes well up with tears. He
remembers telling me I was dramatic and
would get over it.
Lily, perceptive as always, senses my change.
She purses her lips and says, “Rain, did you
also…?”
<
Carter stares at her, warning her not to finish
the sentence.
I pause, confused why they aren’t punishing
- me. Then, I say I am going to my
Each moment with the Jones family makes
the nightmares clearer.
I lie down on the long–forgotten soft bed and
close my eyes.
