Fallon

Chapter 10: Waiting

I crept out the bedroom door leaving Fallon alone. Heaviness set in at the pit of my stomach as i closed the door behind me. Fallon had been having vivid nightmares about her past lately. Every night we took turns watching her sleep, comforting her, and making sure she had a light on just in case she woke up. It was affecting her worse than mine affected me. I made my way down the stairs and into the kitchen. Mom and Dad were talking to Tyler about the incident. I could tell Tyler was worried about Fal. He seemed genuine.

"We went to Coffee to grab a drink and snack so we could sit and talk. Tony was being difficult which wasn't a surprise considering he kissed Fallon yesterday afternoon." Their eyes widened at what they had just heard.
"Tony kissed Fallon?!" Mom couldn't help but smile at the thought of them being together.
"Would you calm down Eileen. Tony has a girlfriend. If he can kiss our girl while dating someone else she doesn't need him in her life." I couldn't have agreed more with Dad. She didn't need Tony romantically. I watched as dad redirected Mom's attention back to Tyler.

    "We had ordered and were waiting for it to be done when Mr. Meldeaux walked down to us. I could tell she was uncomfortable so i motioned to Tony to hurry up. When Mr. Meldeaux called her babygirl she almost collapsed on the counter. I had to rub her back until she could stand. Her face had turned green when she said she wanted to go. So we left. It wasn't until we reached the parking lot she told me he's the one that assaulted Kass." Tyler faced me as our eyes met. I could feel the burning sorrow he felt.

    "I am so sorry that happened to you Kassandra. No one should have to go through that. Especially at the age you did." I could feel tears forming as he apologized for my trauma. His emotions were genuine. I'm glad she had him.
    "Thank you Ty," I whispered. He gave a slight smile as he continued.
    "After that i held her in the parking lot as she sobbed. I couldn't let her go. I didn't know why she felt so sad. Anger i could understand but sadness was something I didn't expect. I wanted to go back in there and rip his head off his body. She begged me to stay." I watched as everyone shook their heads in both fuming rage, and sadness. I needed to be with her if this truly happened. I know, more than anybody else, what she's feeling. I headed back upstairs as they continued to talk. Fallon's door lightly swung open as i pushed.

    "Fallon?" I could hear the water running in her tub. I picked up her journal from the floor. It looked like she threw it.
"I can't breathe when the thought of him touching me suffocates my lungs. I can feel him and no amount of scrubbing will wash him away. I don't want to live this life anymore. I can't do it." Her pen marked words were screaming from the paper. I dropped her notebook and ran to the bath room. Water had toppled over the tub as Fallon's body convulsed underneath. I froze as i watched my sister thrash in the water as if she was being held down. My voice tried to scream but nothing came out.

    "Mom..." I managed to whisper. I cleared my throat.
    "Oh my God.. MOM!!! MOM!!" All three of them came upstairs busting through the door as i screamed. I watched Dad panic and turn off the water.
    "Why didn't you help her." Dad's voice was stern as he lifted her frail naked body out of the water.
    "Someone call 911!" Tyler grabbed Fallons phone off the charger and dialed.

    "I should've stayed. I should've stayed with her. Why did i leave? That was so stupid." Mom rushed over to me trying to calm me down. My face hurt as burning tears flowed down my cheeks. My heart felt like someone has squeezed, punched, and torched it as i watched our father try to revive her.
    "I'm right here Fallon. Don't give up. I got you baby girl." Water gushed from her mouth as she took sparse breaths while coughing up liquid.
    "WERE UP HERE!" We stepped back as EMT's rushed to her aid, moving her onto a gurney. They Placed a mobile monitor on her that showed her heat rate and oxygen levels as they carefully walked her down the stairs.