Australian High School Assesments

Year 11 English - Short Story

A Night Never Forgotten

No one is spared when events like this occur, everyone hears the news, it spreads like a wildfire in a hot, dry forest area. Although it is always assumed that incidents like these only happen to other people no one ever stops to think about the possibility it could happen to them or their family, until its too late.

After hours of driving, the small white car pulled into the dark little street their home resided in, all that could be heard from the back seat was soft snoring from wet children, the smell of salt still lingering within the air. Nearing the end of the cul-de-sac Natasha, mother to the four short girls in the passenger seats, noticed a strange man lurking around the open park across from their house, his thick black hair covering what little part of his face that wasnt shrouded in darkness. Thinking nothing of it she parked the car and hurried the sleepy children inside so she could return the car she had borrowed. When the children entered the cramped suburban home, a few of them immediately lay down to return to their peaceful slumber, not caring where they slept as long as they found some comfort beneath them.

Lillibet, eldest of the four girls, sleepily stumbled through the cluttered house towards the tall wooden black door, making sure she watched her every step as to not stand on anything breakable. There was a loud creak as the door slowly opened to reveal a small black and white miniature fox terrier excitedly wagging his tail, overjoyed to see that his masters have returned home. Come inside Ty. Lillibet commanded with exhaustion in her voice. The young dog sped inside like a bullet freshly fired from a gun. Following her little dog, Lillibet passed her younger sister Sarah curled up on a red bean bag, moulded perfectly to her body, her hair blending into the deep colour as she slept soundly after a long day of playing in waves, eating at a semi-fancy restaurant and spending some quality time with her beloved sisters. The cute black dog stopped to sniff at a handbag that had been strewn across the floor, attempting to discover what treats were hidden inside, giving Lillibet enough time to reach down and lift him from the ground, stroking his short black and white hair as she headed to the tiny little bedroom. Leaning backward the fourteen-year-old was met with soft sheets and pillows, snuggling the small creature closer to her petite body, she slowly drifted into a deep slumber, hearing laughter from the youngest two girls, having previously slept in the car they were now bursting with energy.

The sound of a mans gruff, intimidating voice startled Lillibet from her coma-like sleep. There hadnt been a man living with the family of girls for over ten years. Lillibets father left Natasha when she was only four years old which made the sound of a male voice quite strange. The young, blonde listened for a minute, trying to recognise the mystery mans voice. When she was sure she didnt know him, she let go of the small puppy in order to open her bed-side-table and grab the small paring knife hidden within to sedate her paranoia. It was at this moment Ty jumped off the bed and ran toward the dining room, where the youngest girls were striking up a conversation with the creepy man who had walked through their front door without invitation only minutes prior.

Lillibet heard a loud bark, hurried footsteps, a loud creak as the back door opened, then a loud slam. Outside the barking continued for a mere few minutes, then, silence.

In fear, the young girl ran to the living room, the knife clutched in her grasp to find her three younger sisters, the two youngest confused why she entered in such a manner. They did not understand what had happened, they didnt know that the events that had just occurred were a terrible thing. Sarah, the eldest of the three, terror covered her entire face, her body practically shaking, still unable to process the recent events. Lillibet, realizing she and her sisters were alone in the house once more, quickly tucked the pocket-sized knife into the back of her jeans, concealing it from puzzled young eyes.

The rest of a night was a blur, Natasha arrived home and was informed of what happened, immediately pulling out her mobile phone, dialling 000. Police came and left all throughout the night, asking questions no one even wanted to even think about.

In detail, explain what happened.

Where exactly did he touch you?

What did he look like?

At one point, a cop car pulled up, full of tracker dogs, eager and ready for another nights work. The two younger girls, aged five and seven were perfectly content, meeting all these new and exciting people. Sarah was closed off, afraid to even look anyone in the eye, not wanting to speak with anyone about the details of this dreadful night. Lillibet was filled with fear, anger and guilt. Her fears for her sisters, the children she raised like an older sister, the children she practically mothered their entire lives, growing up the wrong way, having the ones she cares about defiled in a matter of minutes. The thought was simply unbearable.

The guilt of not being able to protect her precious children because she was too busy sleeping in the next room. Anger writhed over every inch of her body, causing her to think of what she would do to the poor excuse for a human being if she ever got her hands on him. She wished she had woken up sooner, that she didnt let the dog chase him outside, that she confronted him and buried her knife deep into his chest, to watch his eyes glaze over as he fell to the ground, never to defile young girls ever again. Thoughts like these consumed her every being, the fear for her young ones slowly turning into a fiery rage, from that day forward she always longed-for revenge against the unknown man that ruined Lillibet and Sarahs innocence.

The memories of that night always stuck with those two. As they grew older they were diagnosed with a multitude of anxiety and depression, Lillibets anger issues worsened, she never returned to her seemingly innocent, childlike state. She constantly takes it upon herself to protect her younger sisters. She constantly lives in fear that he could come back, after all, he was never caught. No one ever seems to understand what its like to have traumatising events like this. When Lillibet opens up to others about what happened their eyes fill with pity.

Yet she doesnt want their pity. She wants what happened on the 27th of April 2014 to just be a dream, for the nightmare of a night to never have existed. Sadly, no matter how much she wishes can the event be erased from her familys narrative.

Everyone hears news about events like this happening to families, its the kind of thing that happens to other people but what happens when you are the other people?