Trapped

23

July 18

"Hey, El!"

I unlock my door to a surprise of Lyle. "Oh, hey! What are you doing here?"

"Can I come in and talk?"

"Oh yeah! Come on in!" I answer, pushing the screen door open for him.

We stand at the entrance.

"So, is Erik doing alright? He's acting differently unless I am just going crazy."

"I think so? Why do you ask?"

"He hardly talks to me and just seems distant with himself and life. And on graduation day, he wasn't happy with our dad, and he's just been, I don't know..."

"I can have him come over after you left and see what's up with him."

"You do that for me?"

"Of course, Lyle. We are all family here."

"Sweet. Call me and let me know what happens."

"I will. Cya!"

I call Erik up as soon as Lyle left. If Lyle came all the way down to my house, it must be important. Now as I think of it, Erik has been a little weird, but that's not that new. It must be Jose. I don't think Lyle knows what's going on... After I gave Erik a call, he got one his way with no hesitation. I show Erik the baby room, and he loves it. We hang out in my room, playing a board game on the floor until I get the will to ask him if he's okay.

"Hey, so your brother came by earlier. He was worried about you. You don't call him as much as you did, and if you are on the phone with him, it's a brief call."

"Yeah, I am all good!" He gets up. "I am gonna go run some errands for myself. "Talk to ya later."

"Erik!"

"I am fine, Ellie." He declares, walking out my entry.

I race up to him out into the hallway. "Can you stop trying to act dependent and strong and let me be there for you?"

"What are you going to do, El? Huh? There is nothing that you can do to have my dad stop molesting me. This... This is always going to be here as long as he lives."

"Erik, if you just talk to me, I can help. You are making it harder for me to help you."

"El, you can't help me... I can't even help myself. And talking won't solve the unwanted sex. You perform like this person who can fix everything by talking, but you can't help this time. I am on my own."

"Have you talked to Lyle?"

"My dad warned me to not talk about anything of what we do together, or he will hurt me. You know enough already. I should stop talking to you about this stuff."

"Erik, I care more about you than this baby."

"Okay, Ellie, stop right there... Just stop. You are a mother right now. You chose to keep this baby, and your baby needs ALL of your attention. Your daughter is now your first priority, and I am not taking that away. I promise I am all good. This isn't my first rodeo."

I sigh, watching him leave. I glance down at my belly, rubbing it. "I am sorry little one. I shouldn't have said that. I care so much about you. You are my world. My everything. My other half."