The Last Time

I was coming out of my bedroom, and my sister was coming up the stairs with a kitchen knife in her hand. Her eyes looked brittle, and her smile looked like the crack in a mirror.

I opened my mouth to say, "What are you doing" but no sound came. My feet were rooted to the carpet.

I was nine. My sister was fifteeen. She'd never babysat me, or been alone with me. Not since I was a baby. If I'd known what she'd done I might've been even more frightened to see her advancing on me like that.

One moment, I was wondering if I was going to die, the next she was past me like I was invisible.

She had a way of moving when she was set on something she wanted. Brisk. Purposeful. A certain set of her shoulders. Her head forward, like the point of an arrow. The whole world seemed to melt away, except for her target.

She was headed for the bathroom. Daddy was in there. Shaving in front of the mirror.

Daddy exclaimed in shock, and I saw the blade flash. He grabbed at her wrist and they struggled, the door banging shut. There were thuds, crashes, glass breaking, and over it all, a terrible scream. Me.

I screamed and screamed, and kept screaming until daddy stumbled out, blood blooming on his shirt.

My sister was slumped on the rug. What did he do to her?

I realised I didn't care. Didn't look to see if she moved or breathed. I hoped she didn't, and didn't even hate myself for it.

"Phone," he panted. "Bring me... the phone."

He called for police and an ambulance. He wadded up a towel and pressed it to where all that blood was coming out.

Daddy went to hospital. People took my sister away. She wasn't dead. She was taken somewhere else. I don't know if they'll ever let her out. I hope not.

I heard later she wanted mum all to herself. She was going to do me afterwards, once daddy was dead and couldn't save me.

That was the last time any of us saw her. My abiding memory of her haunts my dreams. That walk. That knife. That look.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Author's Note:

Word count: 366

(NB. This excludes the title, subtitle, and authors note.)

Submitted on Thursday 5th September at 23:34

A Year of Stories: I'm writing (and submitting, here) a story every day this year. This one continues my 249 day streak since 1st January.

Please consider lending your support to the other creators on this madcap "a story every day" adventure. They're putting out excellent content every day!

Rachel Deeming

Gerard DiLeo

The story behind the story: Scared myself silly writing this. The older sister was very real to me as I wrote it. I wanted to do a "We Have to Talk About Kevin" kind of story, but from the point of view of the sibling.

Edited to fix formatting and links.

Thank you

Especially if you are one of the wonderful people who has been staunchly reading these daily scribbles since the start of the year. I see you, and appreciate you very much indeed!

If you enjoyed this one, the very best compliment you can give me is to share it, or read another!

Here is a recent Top Story of mine:

My new Dollar Challenge! Please give it a look:

A recent Runner Up placement for one of my Wanky Poems:

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Thank you again!