Broken: Emily's Story

6

I woke up to my mother howling and Drunk-As-Fuck Dad yelling at her to shut up. I groan. I feel like someone ran over me with a truck. I cough and a little bit of blood comes with it. I groan again. Hadn't I bled enough today?

I push myself off the floor. I walk to my room. I close my door and practically collapse on my bed. I turn to the wall and fall asleep. My sister stands in front of me, happy and healthy. In joy, I take her fragile frame in my arms. I hold her and tears leak from my eyes.

What's wrong Emily? She asks against my chest. Her ten year old voice sounds worried.

Nothing Sweetie, I answer. I'm still protecting her, even if she's just a dream. Everything's fine Ellie. Everything's fine, I lie.

Soon I find that she's disappeared. I fall to the ground crying. I know the next part. But I look up anyway when I hear her crying. I run to her room.

She's doubled over in pain. She's coughing up blood. Blood spatters on her clothes and the floor.

I pull Ellie into my arms. I hold her as I run out of the door. I run as fast as my eighth grade legs will carry me. I run to Dad's hospital. I go through the ER, breathing fast.

A lady looks up from the desk. Can I help you? She asks, not the slightest bit in a hurry.

It's my sister. She's coughing up blood, I say. In response, Ellie coughs again, blood covering my shirt.

She nods and calls on the intercom for my father. It seems like forever before Dad comes.

He turns the corner and seeing Ellie, his eyes widen. He takes her from my arms and rushes back through the doors. I try to follow, but security holds me back.

I'm screaming. I have to save Ellie. I have to help her. I need to be near my little sister.

Eventually, my throat is hoarse and my voice stops working. I collapse on the floor, crying.

I'm in the waiting room for hours. People come in and out of the ER. But not my dad. Not Ellie.

Mom comes into the ER. Seeing her, I start crying again. She comes and pulls me into a hug. My tears cover her shirt.

Dad finally comes through the doors. He looks for us. When he sees us, he comes over to us.

As he comes closer, I know something's wrong. His eyes are vacant. Empty. Dead. What happened to Ellie?

She's gone, he says in a monotone.

My mom starts crying. I look at him and say, What happened to her?

He holds his hand out and says, This was in her throat. It was lodged there.

I look at his hand. And I will never forget what was there.

What was a pencil sharpener blade doing in my sister's throat?