Shame. Pure shame. Shame for what was to come. Not for what had already happened. God no! You don’t regret doing that at all. No, Cynthia deserved every punch, scratch, and bite that you gave her. You felt no shame in that, you wear your actions with a bitter pride and even some relief. No, the shame came from your failure. Failure to run away. Failure to be that great big sister your dad and Stella always wanted you to be, and instead beating your sibling into the dirt. Failure to even focus on a fucking art contest, which, you will probably back out of seeing that you have not a single stroke of paint to present to the judges. You allowed a shallow sigh of grief escape your mouth. ”Feh...beating me into the dirt is...an understatement.” You turn your head up to the hospital bed in front of you. “Shut up.” you spit out. ”You were...talking about...me.” “You know I mumble, besides I wasn’t talking TO you.” A frustrated blow of air blew out Cynthia’s nose. It was the most she could do with the condition you put her in. Her voice was ragged and quiet. Despite the fact you were in the same room it was still difficult to hear. ”What ever...still talking about me.” “I still don’t want to talk to you.” ”It’s not like...we have anything else...to do. At least...not until mom and dad get here.” “I’m perfectly happy sitting in silence. Besides, I really don’t feel like listening to you pester me right now.” You cross your arms and look back down at the linoleum floor, inspecting all of the white splotches of reflected light, trying to crawl back into the head space you were once in before the green freak pulled you out of it. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence between you. Though as heavy as the air was, it was what you really needed right now. Just the last little bit of peace before you had to confront you parents. Well, Dad and Stella. ”I’m...sorry about that.” You glare back at Cynthia again. Annoyed that she had, once again, broken the last bit of peace you’d be able to get tonight. Looking up you had to do a double take though. There was a different look to her. Her face hung low and her eyes were trying their best to avoid yours. Was that? Was she? Is this remorse? HA! No, no, that’s not what it was. How could it be? Adjusting yourself, you cross your arms over your chest and look directly at her. “Sorry?” ”Yea…” She HAD to be fucking with you. “I don’t believe you. You’ve done this before. Even if Stella and dad didn’t tell you YET, you KNOW they will, and so are just getting it out of the way so you don’t have to do it later. Now shut it. Let me sulk in peace.” You leaned back and returned your gaze to the floor. Cynthia furrowed her brow but still refused to look up. ”I...shouldn’t have...treated you like I...did.” Just ignore her Amber. Eventually she’ll shut up. It’s not like her ‘apologies’ are ever more than the required few words anyways. Yet she continued. ”I’ve...been a bad sister. I thought...you were just...being overly dramatic...and didn’t take you seriously...I didn’t know what...you were going through.” Every word was a wheeze, every pause a staggered and pained breath. You just kept your eyes to the floor, waiting impatiently for her to shut her mouth. ”I know you...aren’t paying attention...but...I mean it. I didn’t know...what you were going through.” No shit. No one does. No one except dad maybe. But he...you couldn’t...not with him. Definitely not with Stella. Not after what you’ve done. ”If I did...I...I don’t know...maybe I would’ve been there…” You grit your teeth. “You weren’t. You never will be. Because you see me as an ‘other’.” Cynthia squirmed a bit at that. ”You know...I...I wouldn’t be here...if it weren’t for you.” “Yea, and I’ll beat the shit out of you again if-” ”No!...no...I mean...alive...born…” You finally pick your head up to look at Cynthia and raise an eyebrow. “What do you mean?” ”You...don’t know?” “Ugh, know what?” ”When mom and...dad first met.” “What about it?” ”They met because...of you.” “No? They met in high school.” Cynthia grunted. What ever she was trying to say you weren’t getting. ”No...after your mom...after Lucy died...dad was...he was heart broken.” “Yea, I’m pretty fucking aware of that.” ”Dad was...you were everything to him...all he had...he refused to take care of himself…” You really began to get uncomfortable here. You had no idea where this was going but you wanted to leave. Not that the cop waiting outside the door would let you. You were basically stuck here in the room with her. ”So mom...she began to take care of you...they fell in love...they got married...they had me...because of you…” You...you don’t really remember that part of any story about Stella and dad meeting. ”I...I’m here because of you Amber...I have my mom sniff...because of you...my family...you made mom want to be a mom in the first place…” You started to shift around in your seat, legs crossing over each other like you had to pee real badly. “Cynthia, I really don’t want to-” ”I-if…you never existed...I wouldn’t have...I wouldn’t have mom or dad...or my room...or anime...anything...a-and I sniff...I’ve done nothing but shit on you for the last sixteen years…” Cynthia’s lips quivered. She held herself as if her stomach ached and pained, resisting against every word that left her mouth. She couldn’t help but fight back against the tears, her eyelids struggling like a dyke trying to keep back a deluge from a rough sea. All the mean while you were having your own rough emotions to deal with. You’ve never really seen Cynthia like this. She’s always been a horrible sister. Always up her own ass, always looking down on you and the art you make. Not once in her entire existence on this planet has she said ANYTHING genuinely kind to you. Not ONCE has she done anything out compassion. And now, tonight of ALL nights, right after everything finally got too much, after you decided to run away from it all, after you finally gave her was she so desperately deserved and then some after years of torment, she drops a fucking nuclear payload on you and begins squirming and writhing like a worm begging for forgiveness. None of it sat right with you. You didn’t understand it. You stood up and stepped forward. Cynthia was too busy trying to hold her self from breaking down for her to notice you. Once close enough to her side of the bed you opened your mouth- “Amber?! AMBER!? Oh God, where is she? Where’s my daughter?!?” Wait a minute, that wasn’t you. Both you and your forlorn sister glance towards the door and watch it fly open. The panting and wretched form of your step mother filled the frame drenched in sweat. Hair sticking out in odd places and eyes blood shot. ”Amber! Oh thank GOD!” You brace yourself as Stella hurried her self to entrap you into a hug, her tail wrapping around the both of you. The stego rocked you side to side whimpering thanks to every deity and spirit she could think of while squeezing the air out of your lungs. Before you could get a chance to pull her off of you more voices echoed in the hallway. ”Hey! She’s in here!” The steps of several people could be heard approaching the room. ”Hey unless you’re the parents of the girls I need you all to stay back and not enter the room!” The human officer stepped in front of the door way where you could hear the please and concerns from your entire family coming from. ”I’m their father, let me in.” Oh no… Moving aside, the officer allowed your dad into the room. Stepping in, your dad’s face was briefly one of relief…until he saw Cynthia lying on the bed. ”Jesus Christ...they didn’t tell me it was that bad.” ”*Sniff* what?” Stella loosens her grip and wipes her eyes to see what your dad was talking about. Looking over your shoulder she gasps. In the panic and relief of having found you, she didn’t notice Cynthia lying in the bed, who was looking a lot more self conscious now that eyes were on her. ”Cynthia? W-what? Oh goodness, sweet heart what happened! I thought we left you with Sam and Olivia!?” Cynthia tries to mutter something which couldn’t be heard but was cut off by dad. ”She snuck out…” ”What?! But why! Oh no, honey you’re covered in bandages! Who did this to-” Stella takes notices of the injuries you had sustained your self. The two of you look away and cringe in guilt. Putting the pieces together, the poor woman shrinks. ”Y-you two...but, girls why? I don-Wait, Anon you knew?” ”Well, Ripely told me. We were trying to tell you but you were, uhm, preoccupied.” Rubbing his neck, dad turns to you. ”And I want you two to tell me what the hell happened. Why?” You opened and closed your mouth several times. Searching deeply to find just the right string of words to explain the situation. “W-well you see, we-uh, I-” ”I...started it…” You look behind you. Cynthia looked away and started to rub her arm. ”It’s...a long...story.” Looking at his watch your dad furrows his brow. ”Well, it’s already past midnight. Might as well tell it to us now.” ”I...I...don’t want to right now…” Cynthia looks away sheepishly. Dad’s face met his palm. ”Well, then we can continue this at home.” ”Actually, uh, Mr. Mouse?” A voice interrupts your dad from behind. One of the doctors managed to get past the curious mob of family members from outside and get through the door. ”It would be better if she stayed here until the morning at least.” ”Next morning? Seriously? Why?” ”Well, ahem, she has a sprained ankle, internal bleeding, possibility of infection, broken teeth, possibility of minor fractures in her skul-” A whimpering Stella cut his listing of the injuries off. ”Ah, uh- Point being, it would be safer is she stayed here, again, until tomorrow morning...or afternoon.” Taking a glance over to see just how bad of a state Cynthia was in, your dad sighed and returned to the doctor. ”Alright. If that’s your opinion. Could one of us stay with her?” ”I’ll do it!” Stella interrupts. ”No, Stella, you’re tired. You should take Amber back home with everyone else.” ”Anon! My daughter is HURT, I’m going to be there for-” ”Yea, and so is MY daughter!” That was probably a little too loud dad. Stella shrunk back a bit at that outburst. It was clear the entire situation was finally pushing him to his limit. ”*Sigh* Sorry. Stel...you’ve been awake long enough. God knows you’ve been through a lot the past...fuck, less than two days. Please, take Amber home, get some rest. I’ll stay here.” Mulling it over, Stella concedes in defeat. ”A-alright.” Stella turns over to Cynthia and says a few words in French. You turn to your dad. “Dad...I-” ”Don’t…” You flinched. The tone in his voice was one you weren’t used to hearing from him. ”Don’t explain yourself. I’m just...*sigh*, I’m just glad you’re okay sweet tooth.” Dad places his hand on your shoulder and gives you a hug. Don’t let the tears start now Amber, not with all your friends and family outside. Stella finishes her talk with Cynthia and finally turns back to you. You both stare at each other for a moment. The feeling that the decision for her to be the one to take you home was a bad idea was starting to creep in as you could feel the very heavy air around you two. You try your best to look as neutral as possible, but the growing pain in your heart was becoming more unbearable by the minute and you could feel the shame you felt expose it self with every heart beat. Stella herself was clearly having similar emotions, though she was far less reserved in expressing them on her face. But she finally took a deep sigh and composed herself. With a fragile smile, Stella takes you by the shoulder and begins ushering you towards the door. ”Come on sweet heart. You must be tired.” You look back over your shoulder just before leaving. You see Cynthia’s face one last time. It hadn’t changed since arriving here. Remorse. Fake remorse? Maybe. You still hated her guts but after her alleged confession...you have a lot of thinking to do when you get home that’s for sure. … Finally. Home. You didn’t see yourself being back here tonight. You had thought that this morning would’ve been the last time you saw this place. But now here you were...with a crying grandmother wrapped around you. And just when you had pulled off the sobbing Triceratops only moments ago. Seeing everyone was...hard. Typically, this is the part of the story where the main character who, after a time of hardship, realizes they aren’t so alone, and a whole family and group of friends to help them all a long. That they didn’t judge them for their feelings and they can finally start their road to recovery. But, this isn’t a movie or feel good story. You knew what you had. You were very aware that you had an entire safety net of friends and family who loved and supported you, but you just couldn’t bring your self to talk with them about it. And it made you feel sick. And the fact that instead of wanting to ask them for help they wouldn’t no doubt given and ran away, hurt them like that. It made you feel so much worse. Aunt Rosa was a mess, cursing you out then sobbing uncontrolably in your arms. Most of it being in spainish so, you really weren't sure WHAT she was saying. Miss Trish wouldn’t stop asking concerned question after concerned question. And like stated previously, Sera was in absolute shock and horror. ”Cynthia did this!?” ”You beat the shit out of her? FUCK YES QUEEN!” Comments that would’ve felt good in the moment, but given everything that has happened between the fight and now were more bitter sweet than anything. Grandpa, Uncle Naser, Reed, and Aunt Olivia were thankfully far more reserved and easier to be around. Well, actually you weren’t even sure if Reed was coherent to what exactly was going on. Poor guy was probably dragged out of his mansion while he was in the middle of one of his ‘sessions’. ”Broo, don’t worry about it. I get lost in the city sometimes too! Have ya tried GPS yet? Life saver!” At least he meant well… Aunt Olivia was shocked about the wounds you had from the fight, but when you explained where they were from she rolled her eyes and apologized for not having kept a better eye on Cynthia. Which is now when Grand Ma being a horrible mess becomes important. She was relieved and even tearful when you walked through the door but seeing your wounds and hearing how you got them...well, she wasn’t taking it well. As you sat on the couch and comforted your poor grandmother you glanced over at the two men standing in the corner of the room. Grandpa and Uncle Naser. They haven’t noticed your sideways glances yet. Nor that you were listening. Far more relaxed than anyone else in the room right now, save for Reed. Well, perhaps relaxed was the wrong word? Tired is probably more correct. But not the sleepy tired. Every so often they’d say a hushed word to one another. ”Seem Familiar?” ”She’s her mother’s child Naser, you and I both know how this night was gonna end. Down to how Sam reacted.” ”Yea, but, Lucy and I never...not physically.” ”That’s because I raised you to never hit a woman son.” Another part of your mother’s child hood you didn’t know about finally coming to light. You should have a tally chart just to keep score at this point. Eventually, your grandmother finally calms down. As does everyone else. After a long time of talking and well wishing, everyone slowly begins to make their way home. Everyone except for Grandma and Grandpa however. Grandpa said it was because they didn’t feel comfortable driving back this late at their age but you knew that was bullshit. He wouldn’t be going to bed tonight. He was going to stay behind and make sure you didn’t try and run away again. He had every right to think you would. But you weren’t. Your failure and the shame that penetrated your heart destroyed you tonight. The worst of all of this was watching Stella, who didn’t say anything since leaving the hospital. Fuck. Tonight was a long night. You didn’t want to be conscious anymore. You had finally decided to return to your room. Stella was understandably worried. You didn’t care. Okay, you cared a little. But you were both emotionally and physically exhausted from everything. Letting your head hit your pillow you let your eyes close naturally and take a deep breath. Sleep came quick that night, but it wasn’t very easy. [POST-NOTES] Sorry for no new chapter last week. Pre Writing chapters can only get me so far and I've hit a wall so now I actually have to THINK about what I write the week before posting and write it when I have the time...which is very seldom available. But we're in the home stretch now. I hope you guys like what I have in store because I seem to have a bad habit of coming up with a climax, do an ok job at a build up and just crash and burn with a meh ending. Gonna try to NOT do that this time.