Sugar - Charlie Dalton

20

Their home felt colder than usual, as the family of four all sat in Mr. Perry's study room.

Clara snuck a look at a framed photo of them, all standing properly and smiling.

Was she ever truly happy before she went to Welton?

The twins had sat down side by side as their father paced back and fourth. Their mother just watched them with the same nervous eyes her daughter had.

Of course, the older man was the first to talk. "We're trying very hard to understand why it is that you two insist on defying us. Whatever the reason, we're not gonna let you ruin your life. Tomorrow I'm withdrawing you both from Welton. Neil you'll be enrolled in Braden Military School. You're going to Harvard and you're gonna be a doctor. Clara, you'll be going back to your old school."

The girl nodded, knowing better than to make this about her. This was about Neil. She'd only talk if it meant backing up her brother.

"But that's ten more years. Father, that's a lifetime!"

"Oh, stop it. Don't be so dramatic. You make it sound like a prison term. You don't understand, Neil. You have opportunities that I never even dreamt of and I am not going to let you waste them."

"Father, he's not wasting opportunities! Didn't you see Neil tonight? The audience loved him. He got a standing ovation. Just because it's a different profession doesn't mean he won't succeed!"

"Acting doesn't pay bills, being a doctor does! And I suggest you sit down and hush up right now young lady unless you want to get punished."

Solemnly, the girl complied as her brother now jumped out of his seat.

"I've got to tell you what I feel."

"We've been so worried about-" Their mother started but was cut off.

"-What? What? Tell me what you feel. What is it? Is it more of this, this acting business? Because you can forget that. What?"

Now the three were all standing and watching each other, waiting for Neil to talk.

It was like all the life had been drained from the boys eyes. "Nothing." He sat down, looking straight ahead.

"Nothing? Well, then, let's go to bed." Mr. Perry said and walked out of the room.

Was he serious? Did he really think this was the answer to Neil's acting and Clara's new found relationship?

Their mother lingered as Neil finally spoke again. "I was good. I was really good."

"He was, you should've seen him."

The older woman nodded slightly and kissed both of their foreheads. "Go on, get some sleep."

It seemed the two twins sat there for hours, motionless.

Then, Clara got up, and walked out. "I love you Neil. Don't let what happened tonight ruin your future. You're going to be a star."

Neil ran to her and engulfed her in a hug. "I love you Clara. I really, really love you."

The girl smile for what felt like that first time in hours and made her way to her bedroom.

She was too tired to take off her makeup or take down her hair. Slipping into a night gown, Clare imagined how her life would go from here.

No Mr. Keating, no friends, no Charlie. What would she do if she couldn't see Charlie again?

She tried to sleep, but the girl tossed and turned all night. It was like there was a hurt in her heart, making it hard to breathe.

She kept hearing creaks around the house, as if everyone was as restless as her.

Finally around midnight, Clara was able to drift into a sleep. Her heart still hurt and was beating fast, until suddenly, it stopped. It was like a relief had been granted upon the girl.

All too soon, a loud bang was heard in the house, shooting Clara straight up.

Sliding out of her bed, the girl peeked into the hallway to see her father's study room still wide open.

From above, she could hear her parents shuffling around, getting up to see about the commotion.

In an instant, Clare was the rooms door, shaking and having trouble breathing. Here was where the girls life stopped forever.

"MOMMY! DADDY!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. She hadn't called them that since she was five.

Soon Mr and Mrs. Perry were by their daughter's side asking what had happened.

The girl couldn't even move, as tears streamed down her face.

Their father was the first to see it. "Neil. No!"

"What is it, what's wrong? Clara, honey, say something!"

The younger Perry just pointed her finger to her brother's now unmoving hand behind the desk.

"Oh, Neil! Oh, my God!"

"Oh! No!"

"Oh, my son! My son! My poor son!"

"He's all right! He's all right! He's all right! He's all right! He's all right! He's all right!"

The two cried and kneeled by the lifeless body.
Clara felt like she was watching a horror movie, as she continued to stand like a statue at the front of the door. If she didn't move, maybe Neil would wake up and this would all be a dream.

She hadn't even noticed her own screams or sobs, or the neighbors outside who heard the commotion, or the ambulance stretcher that came to take the body.

It wasn't until years later that Clara realized her heart hurt that night because it was intertwined with Neil's. That moment of brief calm was when he shot himself. When he had finally reached enteral bliss.

Now, Neil would never know the hurt that followed Clara around for the rest of her life.