the last straw

cry

Angie POV

*time skip 3 months*

Over the last three months, we've devoted our time to Sierra and Avery. We talk to them a lot more than we used to.

Avery was hesitant to talk to us. She was still very anxious about being sent to Leslie's house. We assured her that we'd never send her there.

She felt like she was being left out because she was younger, which is true. She isn't going to know all the things Ty knows. We talked to her about it, and asked her what she wanted to know. We filled her in as best as we could, given her age.

She said that she liked being alone because of the time she spent by herself. This definitely broke my heart. She was alone because she was scared of me and mike, and felt like she had no one. She doesn't deserve to feel like that.

Mike and I decided that we'd talk to her every other night to check up on her, and she seem content with that.

Sierra opened up to me about her food struggles. We talked to her, and decided that inpatient treatment might be the best for right now. She said she was scared, but was willingly to try it.

So right now, Ty and Sierra are out of the house. I don't like how quiet it is. Avery misses them, a lot. She didn't want to talk at first, but we helped her open up. She said that she hated them being gone.

To cheer her up, we let her invite her friend over.

They had a sleep over, and ended up sleeping the in theater room. I went to check up on them around midnight, and they were both knocked our watching my little pony on the large TV screen.

While they were sleep, George, Mike, and I stayed in the kitchen talking about the baby.

George was even more excited about the baby than Mike! We talked about how we'd avoid the mistakes we made with Ty, Sierra, and Avery. We'd start talking to them about feelings early on so they didn't feel the need to hide from us.

*time skip to Monday morning*

We got Avery and her friend ready for school. I had work today, so we had to leave early.

Avery's friend really makes her happy. They were giggling the whole weekend, and whole way to school.

After i dropped them, off I went off the to work. I didn't really have that much makeup work to do, since my boss didn't assign me work while i was in Florida.

As soon as I go to work, I was called into my bosses office. We talked about my mom, and my new article. Thankfully, he stopped sending me to off to write about crime. Those were very dangerous to find sources for.

He gave me the task of writing about small business in the area. Seemed easy enough to me! I know he expects a lot out of me, so I know it had to be amazing, no matter how easy it seems.

Work went by in a breeze for me! I had to go scope out some small businesses, then write about them. In total, I went to 5 businesses today, and would have the articles about them out by Thursday.

After work, I went to pick up Avery. Her friend went back to her parents house.

Avery was being very quiet, for some reason.

"Avery, is something wrong? You're being so quiet." I ask.

"No. Just tired." She says, and smile weakly. She's lying. I don't have to read her to know what she's lying. What is she hiding?

"Avi, you know I can tell when you're lying, right? I know something is bothering you." I say, trying to not pry.

"I just miss them." She says. She's not saying something.

"Sweetie, you know Sisi will be back in a few days. Is that all that's bothering you?"

She nods her head, but is clearly lying. Maybe she'll tell George or Mike.

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Avery POV

When we get home, I went straight to my room. I've been trying out the ice cube trick that Sierra showed me, and it has been helping. I don't want mommy or daddy to know, or they might send me away like they did Sisi.

I'm scared mommy might find out. She noticed I was quiet today. I just don't have my usual energy today.

After a few minutes of me being in my room, Geogre came in.

He walked to the side of my bed, and sat down. I joined him.

"Ms. Avery." He says, smiling.

"Mr. George." I tease back.

"Your father wanted me to come up and check on you. Is something bothering you?"

"Nope. I just wanna be alone."

"Well, we both know that is a lie, now don't we, Ms. Avery."

It was quiet for a few seconds. He's right.

"I wanna do it again. Cut, I mean. It made me feel better. But mommy, daddy, and Sisi can't know. They might send me away like they did with SiSi. I don't wanna leave. I just want my family back."

Silence again. After a few seconds, George kneels down in front of me.

"Sweetie, we didn't send Ms. Sierra. She went away to get better with her eating. You know she's been sick from that, right? She wanted to go to get better."

I had no idea why Sierra left. I thought she was sent away for cutting, and being "bad".

"OH. I didn't know that. Nobody told me..." I trial off.

I'm hurt nobody told me that my sister was sick, and was getting help. I thought she was forced to go away. Why don't they tell me anything?

"I know honey. We didn't know how you'd take the news. We should've explained better."

Silence.

I'm going to cut. I know i shouldn't, but I really want to. I want to tell George before I do it, just to see of he could stop me.

"Uhh... I was planning on cutting..." I don't know what to say.

George stands up, and picks me up. He takes me downstairs to the kitchen, where mommy and daddy are.

"We need to have a talk with Avery. The talk we've been dreading." George says.

Am I in trouble?? What did I do?

"I'm sorry! I won't say that again! Please don't be mad, George."

"Say what?" Mommy ask.

"That I was gonna cut," I start crying.

"We really gotta talk." Daddy says.