It's exactly six years later now, and I'm standing on an altar with my sisters and soon to be sister in law, waiting for Cate to walk down the isle. Alisha's tugging at the collar of her suit nervously, and Izzy is helping Lilia refasten her hair clip. These past few years have been a whirlwind of activity and emotion, but Cate and Alisha have managed to stay together throughout it, and are finally getting married.
Once Esme died, father's temper got worse and mother became more and more reserved. As the police still weren't able to find her or recover the body after three months, Esme was legally proclaimed dead and the case was closed. Father blamed mother for the fact that Esme is dead, he blamed anyone other than himself.
As soon as I turned eighteen, I moved out of the house and put myself through college, cutting off all contact with my parents. I remained in touch with my sisters however, checking on them regularly and sending money. I worked long hours as a waitress and got a job as a receptionist at a publisher's office, and by the end of my freshman year, I was able to move out of the dorms and rent an apartment. My sisters all followed in suit, cutting off contact with mother and father upon graduating high school and then proceeding to move in with me while going to college and working part time. It was hard affording college and the cost of living without our parent's help, but luckily, all of us got at least a partial scholarship. Anything is better than having to live with him again, having no control over our own lives, just pretty objects put on display to be shown off. Living in an abusive household my whole life has forced me to grow up faster, to become independent, to learn to never rely on anyone other than myself.
I finally graduated college with my bachelors degree last spring, and Cate followed, now getting married only three weeks after her graduation. Lilia's going to start her junior year in the fall, and Izzy her sophomore year. Suddenly, I hear a stir of commotion and people begin to whisper. I look out down the isle and see Cate, radiant in her simple white dress, making her way to the altar to gain forever happiness. As I look at my other sisters, their face alight with excitement, I miss Esme more than ever.
We all left and got away, and are now living our best lives. All except for Esme. She never got the chance to escape, never got the chance to find true happiness, never got the chance to be free.
There used to be five daughters in the Clairmont family, now there are four.
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Behind Closed Doors
Mystery / ThrillerTW: mention of violence, abuse, and suicide To all of their friends, the Clairmont's appear as the perfect family; beautiful, wealthy, and intelligent. However, nothing in this family is as it seems. All of these lies and secrets, piling up on each...
