Murders Of The Past

TWELVE

WHEN I TURN the handle I'm shocked at how easily it opens. I thought it would be locked and I'd have to break the window to get in. I guess it's my lucky day.

I stumble into the house, swinging the door shut behind me and heading towards the kitchen. I hop up onto a stool and kick my shoes off before letting out a long, loud groan. I hear someone cough and jump, narrowing my eyes and turning around.

"What you been- " I shut my mouth when I find five pairs of eyes on me. I scan my eyes over all of them. Dad, Julie, Sam, Adam, and Carlos. "Who died?"

"No one died, Sadie." Adam is the first to speak.

"Yet," Carlos mumbles. I blink at them.

"OK." I nod. "Then uh... who's birthday is it?" The five of them look at each other.

"No one's birthday," Adam speaks again.

"Then what's going on?" I sit up straighter, sensing the tension in the room.

"Why don't you come to sit down?" Julie suggests.

"This doesn't sound good," I mumble to myself as I stand up and make my way into the living room, taking a seat on the ottoman while the rest of them sit on the couch.

"Is she drunk?" Julie looks over at Carlos. Carlos studies me, shaking his head.

"No. I'm surprised she isn't drinking right now." I narrow my eyes. What's going on?

"Why are you guys here? What happened?" I ask after sending Carlos a look.

"We need to talk about your problems." I look at Dad and scoff.

"My problems?" I point to myself. "What about your problems? You and your balding problems." I refer to his shiny bald head. "You're starting to look like Caillou." Sam snorts and Julie elbows him.

"Your drinking problem." I don't dare to look at Carlos, knowing that if I did, I would probably punch him. This topic again!

"I don't have a drinking problem." I cross my arms.

"You drink wine every day, Sadie. I see you with wine more than I see you with our kids." I scoff.

"Sadie, we think you should see someone." I look at Adam.

"Someone?"

"Someone to help you."

"I don't need help." I jump up to my feet. "What I need is a husband who will stop berating me about my choices!" I turn and start towards the kitchen.

"And what I need is a wife who will get her shit together and grow up!" I come to a halt. What did he just say? I spin around and glare at Carlos with a glare so hot it hurts my eyes.

"Grow up?" I ask and scoff. "Grow up?" I repeat, feeling tears brim my eyes. "How dare you!" I point at Carlos. "Do I need to remind you? My life was fucked up before I turned eight! I had the pressure of leading an entire gang put on my shoulders before I could legally drive! I spent the majority of my high school life running from people trying to kill me! I think I grew up way before anyone else did!"

"That's not true," Sam buts in. "Julie is the one who had to grow up sooner than all of us." He places his hands on her shoulders. "She was in foster care the moment she was born, remember?"

"That's right." Carlos nods. "She was living in her own house alone before she could legally drive." I frown, clenching my fists. Of course, he sides with them.

"It's not my fault nobody wanted her!" I blurt out before I can stop myself.

"Sadie!" Carlos snaps as Julie spins around and rushes for the door, Sam chasing after her.

"Why would you say that?" I look at Adam, then at Dad, and then Carlos. They all give me the same look: disgust. I take one step back, then another, and another.

"Sadie," Carlos says firmly. I continue looking at each of them, my breathing becoming harder as my eyes burn. "Come back, we're not done here." I spin around and race up the stairs.

Yes we are.