WHEN DADDY LEFT

Acceptance

Tanisha's POV

I try listening to everyone but I am so agitated and angry at everything that's happening. Why is my sister going through all this?

Anthony caused the brain injury and now Charles Miller is trying to kill her. This has gone overboard. I can't sit here and wait. I have to act.

I promised myself that I won't go back. That I won't repeat this mistake but I think I have to go back. Just for the sake of my sister.

I stand up making up my mind to leave but what Daniel says next has me sitting down. I feel all the strength oozing off me. One of my cousins holds me but I don't remember which one.
Everyone is silent. In shock. Aunt Lucretia speaks up first,

"Mental breakdown you mean crazy? You're sugarcoating crazy? My niece is going crazy?"

She lets out a dry chuckle. Her son scolds her for putting it so bluntly but I can see how my aunt is angry too.

Mia asks,

"What exactly happened? If anyone could tell us. How traumatic was it to the point of a mental breakdown?"

"Maybe we'll never know Mia. What I know is my wife is going through a lot and I am just confused at the moment."

Uncle Vin speaks up next.

"Raquel you told us not to put up blames but this is getting out of hand. Someone needs to say it out loud. This is Anthony's fault. He's laying there dead but If you allow me I want to stab his corpse."

Mummy stands up trying to calm her twin brother down. My uncles and aunts agree with uncle Vin.

"We should do something, like pressing charges or burning their house down."

Uncle Alessandro says pacing up and down. Abuela is just seated in silence. It's unusual for her. She would've been the first one to curse the Millers out. I slowly get out without anyone noticing. I find Lilly, Matt and Jake standing outside. I approach them trying to see if any of them could help me out.

Anthony's house is all the way in Buckhead so far from St. Jude's.

Lilly notices me first and takes my hand, giving me a side hug. Jake and Matt all stare at me with pity in their eyes. It looks like the Aplastic anaemia thing all over again. I am not crying anymore. I speak up without thinking first.

"Y'vania has a mental breakdown. She's not going to be the same again."

"What?"

Lilly drops the coffee. Her eyes wide in shock. Matt has his mouth wide open and Jake is standing frozen at one spot, clenching his fist so tight it's almost turning white. Matt speaks up first,

"How do you know, how did you find out?"

"Daniel told us at the lobby. Just before the gunshot Y'vania was awake but she was behaving as if she has memory lapses, her eyes were staring into space and he was saying confusing things."

"Oh shit this is bad."

I nod and ask if one of them could give me a ride.

"Where are you going to?"

I shrug and reply,

"Just driving around. I need to process all this. Can I borrow your car Matt? I have my driving license with me don't worry I won't break any traffic rules."

He gives me the keys without asking anything else. I leave without a backward glance.

Ten minutes later I park my car in front of the Miller residence. I walk in straight through the main entrance. There are guests coming in and getting out. The door is open. There is a huge portrait of Anthony with candles and flowers.