It's saturday evening and after getting some homework done mum has entered my room with my trainers in hand. I slide my homework across the desk and look up at her.
"C'mon,it's the weekend so you,your dad and your brother and I have some training to do!" I roll my eyes taking the trainers out of her hand and gesture to her to leave my room, "i'll just get dressed into my athletic wear and meet you downstairs mum".
////
We all arrive at the local field,it's dark and clear to see mum has picked the dark for training so people dont see us,maybe she feels embarassed about her fitness level, I sure do. Dad is gazing off,he looks tired already and clearly mum won the argument they had the other day about him joining the marathon because he's here and aggitated. "We've only got a month to train Emma, surely we shouldn't start,you can take up pilates or yoga, those magazines you read are always going on about that!" Dad groans at mum,mums name is emma. "A month? I'm always training in track,so i'll crush this" Eli brags giving a sly slimey smile I roll my eyes, schools track training isn't going to beat some properly trained marathon runners,he'll be lucky if he comes mid in the race.
As we start I look forward at the track already feeling fatigued, I haven't eaten much today,or much at all since mum threw out half the cupboards and made that comment about me. As we start running I try to keep a good pace for my breathless,tired, hungry self. Mum and dad are way behind me and Eli is quite a bit infront. I know I could push myself and run faster but i'd much rather be behind Eli and closer to mum and dad than at the same pace as him. As I get to the finish line of the track we are practising on I notice Eli waiting patiently and staring behind trying to hide sniggering laughs behind his hand resting on his chin. I slow down to a walk and look behind me.
Mum is limping and dad is walking now, I run back over to them. "Mum are you okay?!" Dad shakes his head "I think your mum has sprained her ankle" Mum's ankle doesn't look good and her face is quenching in pain as she yells "this pain is unbearable! I need a drink", "you are NOT having a drink,im taking you to the hospital!" Dad pulls mum over the finish line and explains to Eli what happened. When we get home he drops us off in the house,its late,aroud 9pm and mum is still in pain so she stayed in the car, "Im taking your mum to the hospital,now its late and you both can't be up all night so ill leave you here incase this takes a while,please be responsible,dont invite anyone round and text me if you need anything,love you both, will hopefully be back soon!" Dad crosses his fingers as he says hopefully "Dont worry dad, i'll be responsible,and i'll keep an eye on Ellie too" Eli grins placing a hand on my shoulder, Dad smiles and nods before he turns to leave "Dad stop!" I yank on his arm to stop him.
"can I come with you?" I look over to Eli who looks frustarted and dad who looks tired "Please dad,im,im really worried about...mum" I try to plead with him, dad looks like he is puzzling it and rubs his forehead looking at me and then Eli before he says "Ellie,your mum will be okay its likely just a sprain,you can check in on her in the morning,its important you rest! your going to Jessie's for the musical practice tomrorow right?you need to be awake,not sleepy for all that dancing and singing" dad looks at me pitifully and gives me a hug "try not to worry sis,people get sprains all the time in track,mum will be fine" Eli rubs my back and then nods to dad "i'll look after her" he waves my dad off and I stand staring at the door. Im not worried about mum,I know she'll be okay, she was asking for a drink on the field! It's being here completely alone with Eli that worries me and not knowing when mum and dad will be back.
Eli comes back in from waving off mum and dad and his exspression instantly changes as he closes the front door. He looks hurt and mad "What was that about? why did you react like that?" he walks over to me crossing his arms "I-i,I was just...worried about mum" I shrug walking over to the fridge pulling out a can of cola. It's not diet,I start to read the ingredients on the back,the calories are alot more than diet,ill just have some water. "you were just worried about mum?" Eli starts prying "yes." I grab a glass of water and start to walk upstairs "so,its not that you don't want to spend time with me?" I stop in my tracks and turn to him. I can't tell if he is about to get angry or if he is going to relax. "no,im fine with...spending time with you" I say reluctantly and turn on my heel to the stairs. Eli walks over to the living room "well,then spend time with me sis" he has a sad smile on his face,he looks just as confused as I feel "I need to shower,after all the running, and...and I have a busy day tomorrow so I better just rest" I shly smile at him the corners of my mouth barely lifting as I spout out my excuse.
/////
After downing my water and getting my pj's and towel ready for after my shower I head into the bathroom. Staring at my face in the mirror I can see bags under my eyes, sleeping has been harder since the night I woke up with Eli in my bed,I feel anxious at night that it might happen again even though I block my bedroom door with the heaviest box in my room before bed,I need a lock on my door but I dont have one so the heavy shoe box has to do. I undress and step into the shower washing my body I feel disgusted at myself, am i too big? I need to eat less, mum wants us all to be on this diet for a reason so clearly there must be something wrong with the way I look.
I turn off the water and as I go to open the shower curtain it opens before I can reach for it,Eli is standing there in a towel. I must not have heard him when the shower was running. I cross an arm over my chest and another below me trying to cover as much of my body as possible "Eli get out! I'm done showering you can use it after me,just let me get dressed and out please!" I yell uncomfortably. Eli turns the shower handle back on before stepping in with me,I shudder trying to shrink into my skin to hide "We can shower together,like when we were kids and we'd share a bath" he reaches for the soap and then goes to grab my arm and starts to rub soap on me, I feel myself freeze before trying to take control.
"This is wrong Eli! We're not kids, and you cant touch me anymore!" I scream in his face before trying to run to the bathroom door. I feel myself fall as I slip, my feet wet on the titles and before I know it, my head bangs against the hard tiled floor and my eyes fade to black.
YOU ARE READING
My Brother.
Short StoryChapters out at least once a week. A dark story about being abused by twin brother and escaping it. Trigger warning for abuse in this story. This was difficult to go through so please don't read this or continue to read this if it could trigger you.
