Penelope Storm

One

     The words "dad is dying" coming out of my sisters mouth should have been something that made my heart jump. But it wasn't. Instead, the only thing that shocked me was the fact that Isobel looked at me as if I should give a flying fuck. I didn't.

      I scoffed a laugh and turned back to making my coffee on the kitchen bench behind me. "What is it this time? Lung cancer? Brain tumour? No wait." I looked over my shoulder and put a finger to my lips, feigning deep thought and tapped. "He already told us he had those things before."

      "This isn't a joke, Pen!" She scowled at me with her bright blue eyes. Eyes that she received from our father.

      I whipped around so god dam fast I could have given myself whiplash. "No it's not!" I sneered.

      I was so fucking over this conversation and it had only just begun. "But do you know what is? The fact that you actually believe his bullshit, the fact that you give a rats ass and your now looking at me all disappointed and shit when you know what I think of him."

      "Pen..."

      I held a hand up to stop her. Nothing she was going to say would change my mind. "How many times has he pulled this shit with us? How many times has he manipulated us into feeling sorry for him so we visit? Not. Fucking. Happening. Isobel!"

      I wasn't falling for his shit any longer. I wasn't that scared little girl anymore and if I had to be honest, it pissed me the hell off that my sister kept forgiving him. So much for backing each other.

      She took a deep breath in and then exhaled. The look in her eyes made me want to throw something. She looked at me like she felt sorry for me.
"Penelope," she leaned forward on the kitchen island between us and I backed away as she went to reach for my hand. I didn't do well with comfort, or people touching me in general.

      Isobel pretended she didn't notice as she continued. "It's real this time. I went to the hospital and spoke with his doctor and everything."

      "You what! When the hell did this happen?" I raised my voice even louder. Unable to help the sudden flare of anger inside of me. Yep, she got dads pretty blue eyes and I got his temper. Totally fair.

      I began rubbing my temples wondering how long she had been in contact with him for this to happen.

      "He called me..." She went to answer but my hands dropping and slapping against my thighs stopped her short.

      "I need some air." I told her. Feeling like the walls of my small apartment were about to close in on me squish me until my insides were oozing out.

      She nodded, "I understand, it took me a while to process too."

      I laughed a bleak laugh. "I need some air from you. Not from the crap about our sperm donor." Although I guessed it was all the same.

      "Excuse me?" She looked as if I had slapped her. Maybe I should, I thought. Maybe that would knock some sense into her.

      I didn't answer her though. I just walked away from the kitchen island that separated us. Leaving my half made coffee behind me and made my way to the door.

      "Penelope! You can't just dismiss me like that. This is real! Whether you want to accept it or not!" She yelled after me.

      "I'll take the 'or not' part!" I yelled back and grabbed my keys and purse off the little table near the front door to my apartment. Knowing my sister had a spare set of keys because she had been staying with me this week. That I was quickly realising was probably just an excuse for her to be closer to dad. Fuck sakes. How did she get that past me?