Shhhh

“What will you do?”

“I don’t know. I never know. I wish I could trade this away sometimes, be given someone else’s family. Deal with mediocre problems. You know, like Uncle Charles said something unseemly at Thanksgiving or some crap.”

“Well you can’t. The cards you were dealt are the ones you have.”

“Yeah, I know. And I couldn't really escape him because Mom still talked to him and Marley too. I wish they would have both cut him out.”

“You could just not talk to any of them, might be easier.”

“…. It’s hard either way. I wish they could see how dangerous he is. Even after this, Mom keeps minimizing things. Downplaying it. She acts like he’s still twelve, but he’s not. I feel like she forgets he’s older than me sometimes.”

“Do you think it’s because he’s the only boy?”

“Pftt, I know it’s because he’s the only boy. They were always easier on him, even Dad. You know how Dad was with us girls… He wasn’t that way with Robert. Never with Robert. He was strict with him, sure, but not as demeaning. Instead, he just told Robert what crap Marley and I were for being girls. And how stupid our mother was.”

“Well, there’s your answer. It doesn’t excuse what he did though. Marley and you didn’t turn out like that. And your mom is covering for him. She’s part of the problem.”

“I know, I know. But she still picks him over us. Sometimes it makes me feel like nothing I do matters.”

“You know that’s silly.”

“Yeah I do.”

“……………… So what will you do?”

“Marley thinks we should let it go. She says she just won't talk to Robert anymore. It seems wrong though. If we have a voice, don’t we have a duty to exercise it? Besides, I have been no contact with Robert for a long time; he can’t reach me. I have no reason to be scared. But, Marley is afraid mom will get upset, and that the whole family will find out and then Robert will be all alone. Or worse, that he will show up with a gun somewhere.”

“That's all the more reason to report him. Besides, his actions were his own choice, and consequences are an important lesson. Better he learn it now before someone else gets hurt.”

“We don't know that he hasn't hurt someone else before.”

“Do you think your dad knows? It seems like an extreme even he wouldn’t excuse?”

“Who knows, I haven’t spoken to Dad in years. He wasn’t much better than Robert. You pour and pour hate into something then wonder why it turns sour. This is as much his creation as it is Robert’s.”

“You can report it, you don’t need Marley’s blessing to.”

“Yeah, but that feels a bit like a violation of her trust. I.. I just... It's that... Things were going so well, it seems a shame to ruin it all.”

“Yeah, but Robert already ruined it. It’s over.”

“I’m so tired of being the girl with trauma. Can’t I just be normal for a spell? Will this follow me forever?”

“If you move away and stop talking to them, it’ll fade in time. But, I suppose that’s its own trauma and grief. Unfortunately, you can’t choose your blood and who shares it.”

“I hate that Marley won’t report it.”

“Maybe she just lacks the resolve. Did she never say why?"

“Ha, no. Just how hurt she was by it. Marley said he didn’t even tell her sorry. What else might he do? He’s insane.”

“Maybe she will understand one day.”

“Maybe. I think Marley won’t talk to me for a while. And I don’t really want to talk to mom either.”

“You’re doing the right thing. Bad people get away with future harm when good people do nothing.”

“Yeah, I know. I just wish it didn’t have to be me. But, I suppose everyone thinks that.”