The Suffer of the Silenced

suffer of the silenced part 27

I stopped halfway down the stairs, frozen in place. Did I really just hear that?

"Lillian!" The familiar voice called again.

"She's coming sweety, she'll be down in just a second." Dahlia said in a cooing voice.

Landon arched an eyebrow and looked at me. "Don't you want to see what's happening?" He grabbed my hand and tugged a little, but I still couldn't seem to move my legs.

Ben appeared at the bottom of the steps and laughed at the expression plastered onto my face. "Aww, is the little girl scared?" He walked up the stairs and paused in front of me. "She won't bite, at least I don't think she will. Five year olds don't bite do they?"

After I didn't respond he rolled his eyes. "Well, let's go see then." He put his arms around my waist and threw me over his shoulder.

"Put me down, Ben! Put me down!" I screamed. I had always been scared of being picked up. I kicked the air as he laughed. "Calm down, princess." He set me down at the bottom of the stairs.

He stepped aside and suddenly Kris was there. She smiled a wide, toothy smile and ran towards me. She threw her arms up and jumped into mine.

"I missed you so much! I woke up one day and you were just gone! Where did you go?" She asked.

"I'm so sorry, honey. I promise that I will never ever leave your side again." Tears pooled in my eyes.

"I worked too hard on your make-up, you better not cry!" I heard Dahlia shout.

I laughed and squeezed Kris hard before I set her down again. "Do you know where mommy is, Kris?"

"I'm right here baby." I turned, stunned by the voice, to see my mother standing a few feet in front of me.

Before I knew it I was in her arms, crying onto her shoulders. "Mom! I missed you so much! Are you okay?"

"Shhh, honey, I'm fine. Everything is fine. Everything is wonderful actually because of you." She brushed her hands through my hair like she used to do when I was a little kid. "Lillian, I love you so much. I thought I lost you. I'm so sorry that I never did anything about your father. Once he touched you I should have done something." I felt her hot tears on my shoulder.

"Did he ever touch Kris?" I whispered into her ear.

"No, I didn't let him. After you left I promised myself I would never let him hurt my family any more."

She held on for a moment longer before she pulled away. "Thank you honey." She kissed my forehead and smiled at me.

"What about your father?" I asked as Landon appeared at my side

"He's around here somewhere." He said as he slid his arm around my waist. "Dad?" I called.

"Yeah?" A chubby man with a bald spot came out of the kitchen holding a sandwich. "Is this Lillian?" He asked, his eyes on me.

"It sure is." Landon said after he kissed the top of my head.

The man handed his sandwich to Ben, who took a huge bit of it, and walked over to where I stood. "It is so wonderful to meet you." I was surprised when the man pulled me into a hug.

I had never met anyone's parents before and I felt myself blush. "It's nice to meet you, too." I heard myself say.

"Well, hey to you too, daddy!" Dahlia said as she swatted him on the back of the head.

"Dahlia!" He let go of me and grabbed her.

Landon grabbed me and let me into the kitchen. He jumped on the counter and pulled me up with him. "I love you." He said.

"I love you, too. How did you find them?" I asked

. "My dad was in the barn like your dad said. Then Kris and your mom where in the house. I have some bad news though, honey." He said, looking down at the floor.

"Oh god! What is it?"

"Your grandmother. She, um... passed away." He still didn't look up.

"How?" Was all I could manage to say.

"Old age. Lillian, I am so sorry."

Sobs built in my throat and suddenly spilt over. Landon put his arms around me and pulled me into him.

"Shhh, It's going to be okay. It's going to be okay." He repeated over and over.