Silence

Chapter 1

Braeden POV:

We left church and went straight home for the first time in months. It was usual for us to go see Nana and take her to lunch. But Leslie had complained of stomach pains like she usually did. I can't understand how her stomach hurts, she never puts food into it so it can't hurt that bad right? But I also am not an expert on anorexia, am I? No. 

When we got home we all went to our rooms, while Mom went to the laundry room to finish everyone's clothes for the week. Dad went to the garage to keep working on my future car, and old pickup that has belonged to the family for about twenty years.

I walked up the stairs and I was heading to my room when Leslie walked out of her room to head to the bathroom. She had changed her clothes, yet again. She goes through several outifts a day. I stopped her in the hall. 

"What's up with you lately?" I asked. 

"What do you mean?" She replied. She looked scared and she was tapping her fingers on her leg like she does when she's nervous. 

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Can I go now? I have to go to the bathroom." She didn't wait for me to speak, she shoved on past me and into the bathroom. I heard her lock the door, so I kept on walking to my room. In my room it was dark, like I enjoyed it. Aggie would always call me a vampire. I went to go check on her in her room.

I knocked and walked in, and she sat on her butterfly printed rug with her dolls. 

"Hey kiddo. What's up?" I said.

"Hey bub. Do you want to play with me?" She asked.

"Sure whatcha doing?"

"Playing with Barbies. We're going to the mall." She handed me a Barbie and we walked out of her Barbie mansion into the mall and shopped until it was Barbie's bedtime. 

"I'll be right back Aggie I have to go to the bathroom." I said. I handed her the Barbie back and walked out. The bathroom light was still on and the door was locked. Leslie souldn't possibly still be in there right?

I knocked, no answer. I knocked again, still nothing. I reached up and got the bobby pin from above the door and unlocked the door. I peeked around the door, just in case she was still doing stuff, and I found her on the floor passed out. I rushed in and knelt down to her. She had an empty presciption bottle in her hand. I screamed for my mom and I picked Leslie up and ran down the stairs with her.

"What's going on Braeden?" My mom asked. "What happened??"

"Mom she needs to go to the hospital now. She took a bunch of pills!" My mom called an ambulance and within minutes they were here picking up Leslie. The perks of living near a hospital. Mom and Dad got into the car and drove after the ambulance, while I stayed home with Aggie. She looked up to me with tears in her eyes. 

"Bub, is Leslie going to be okay?"

"Yeah kiddo, she's going to be fine. The doctors are going to help her get better." 

"Why did she take medicine? Is she sick?"

"Um, kind of. Let's not talk about it okay? Let's go play."

We went back upstairs and played with Barbies until I got a phone call from my mom. 

"Hello? Is she okay?" I said.

"Hey Brae. She's okay, they pumped her stomach. She's really tired though. Dad is on his way to come get you and Aggie so be ready okay? We want you guys to see her before she goes to a center for suicidal teens."

"Okay mom.. We'll be ready. Bye." I hung up and helped Aggie put on shoes. We went outside and waited for Dad, and he pulled in a few minutes later. We hopped in and went to the hospital. Dad took us straight to her room and there laid Leslie, looking very pale and sad.

"Hey rainbow." That was my nickname for her. She always dyed her hair different colors, so rainbow fit.

She looked at me, our eyes met, and she looked away. 

Aggie went and sat in Mom's lap, and said hi to Leslie. She didn't say anything to either of us. A doctor came in and started talking to my parents. 

"Miss Leslie is going to stay a couple days to make sure she is okay, and then she will be transported by ambulance to Presario Behavioral Center. We will let you know when that happens so you can check her in. Visiting hours are going to be over in about half an hour, but you're very welcome to come in at eight tomorrow to visit again. 

I took a look at my sister. She had scars and cuts all over her arms, and I almost started crying at the sight of them. I walked out of the room when Aggie asked why she had so many "boo boo's."

I sat in the car until the rest of the family came back out. I don't know why my sister wanted to die so bad, but I felt like I was to blame for not keeping her safe. I had to step up my game and keep the girls safe. I couldn't let this happen again.