Today started off the same as any other day, I woke up, texted jessie to see if he'd be in school today but he's still not feeling well,had an argument over breakfast again with my dad before heading to school where the day went okay, clara and ryan have noticed me and Eli not talking lately and have asked a few uncomfortable questions but i'm still not ready to tell them, i know people have heard rumours now since the argument Eli and I had outside of the school on my first morning back, but im not ready for people to know, it was hard enough telling jessie,dad and mum, i dont know how i'd cope with more people knowing and what they might think of me,how they might judge me or see me as too weak to escape my brothers arms.
After school I came home,caught up on some homework, attempted to eat dinner with my dad and now i'm trying to resist the urge to exercise the food I ate, distracting myself with some netflix on the living room tv. It's around 6:20pm and the sunsets warm glow is stricking through the living room curtains plastering an orange warm glow against the family portraits on the wall.
My eyes follow the setting suns light to a family photo. Mum looks calm and collected as shes sat on a beach looking out at the ocean,a glint of sparkle in her eyes, dad looks goofy with his toothy smile and odd camera angle as he had taken the photo trying to fit all of the family in but cut off part of his face. Me and Eli aren't paying attention to the camera at all and are completely focused on our sandcastle and bright neon orange and pink buckets and spades. The photo was from maybe 8-9 years back,when me and Eli were 8 or 7, we all look so happy there, and we were dont get me wrong,but mum and dad would argue like crazy.
I can remember mine and Eli's 9th birthday, mum and dad had a huge argument about dad's work and a week before my birthday mum left the house for days,it was so quiet whilst she was gone, and I love my dad but me and Eli didnt go to school that week as he had work and mum wasnt home to take us and so we'd spent the week at home unsupervised,playing mario cart and watching tv,coloring and talking about when mum would come back. Sometimes i'd cry, scared mum wasn't coming back at all, and my brother would pat my back,tell me she loves us and explain that she would be back soon, then dad would come home and microwave us some pop tarts, mums cooking wasn't great back then but when she left for the week our dad only ever microwaved us pop tarts for dinner,I think he was pretty depressed after their argument. Having pop tarts everyday made mine and Eli's stomach hurt quite often but I was too nervous to ask dad to cook us something proper in case he'd shout at me like he did mum when they'd argue, but I remember telling Eli I wanted pizza and him melting cheese on some burnt toast in the microwave for me,we were young and had basically no cooking skills but that was much better than the sickly sweet pop tarts, gahh those sugar rectangles make me sick still to this day! Anyway I remember the day my mum came back again after that argument and before the next one that made her leave for much,much longer. It was our 9th birthday and mum finally came back home with a present and a cake for us, at the time me and Eli were opposite my dad at the kitchen island and about to blow out our candles until the door latch went and mum walked into the room with a cake and present in hands. After the argument with my dad he must've been pretty pissed to see her back without an apology or maybe it was because he had a cake,i was just a child i dont know why but something got him so mad in that moment he clenched his fist and punched into the cake my mum brought just as it skimmed across the counter.
As I look at the old photo I feel a glint of happiness followed by hurt and pain, I miss being young, innocent and free, I miss having my old brother,the caring sibling I no longer have, and I really do miss my mum. I sigh before turning my attention to the letterbox as a loud 'clink' echos from the door. "Dad! You've got mail!" I shout up to my dad as I haul myself towards the letter that's just been posted.
I pick up the mail to place it on the side for dad but as I glance at it I notice:
ISVA Crown and Magistrates Court,
Ellie Bernard,
Followed by my address, the big blue crown logo causes me to freeze, my hands stiffen and shake with the flimsy envelope in my hand and I feel my heart start to race.
As I tear along the the flap of the envelope and breathe in and out deeply preparing myself, I read:
Dear Client,
We have recieved your request for a court hearing in the case of Ellie Bernard vs Eli Bernard. We are writing to inform you that the details for your scheduled court appearance in regards to the charge of sexual assault against Ellie Bernard committed by Eli Bernard have been confirmed. The date of the hearing is set for 6th,March,2025 in ISVA Crown and Magistrates Court, under Judge Grant.Due to the age of both parties involved, names of anyone under the age of 18 giving evidence or speaking in defense will be replaced with initials. We understand the importance of this matter and its significance for all parties involved. We encourage you to gather any necessary documentation or evidence in preparation for the hearing and to work with your allocated lawyers in order to have your evidence viable or else it may not be considered in court.
As I stumble and mumble the words i'm reading I feel a sense of hope wash over me aswell as an intense pull of anxiety drag me down. "Ellie?" My dad arrvies strides over to me and notices the stirring storm of emotion welling up in my eyes. I take a breath and look directly to him "It's here,the letter from the court..."
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.
