Galaxicon [Finished]

The Game

The smile plastered to her face never faltered. The joy in her eyes never dimmed. Happiness glowed from the way she grinned ear to ear despite her bruised cheek.

Her cheek had to be throbbing from the way the bruise looked, but she showed not one sign of being in pain.

Charmaine pulled her sister into a hug, a part of her desperate to get out of here. Away from the things she witnessed the aftereffects of almost daily. Another part of her pleaded to stay. To take care of Rose like she always did. Protect her and care for her. Make the pain go away as best she could.

"Take me with you!" The plea still echoed through her mind. Rose begged for hours when Charmaine announced her plan to leave for college. She begged Charmaine to take her along.

She was barely 18, though, and Rose turned 15 in two days. Besides that, their parents would never allow it. And that went without mentioning the government and all the legalities that went with it.

Even Rose's and her request of a monthly visit for Rose met denial.

In their parents' eyes, like everyone else, Rose remained unfit to stand in Charmaine's presence. People still viewed Rose as an object to be cast aside; discarded at will. Something only to be treated half-way decent when she proved herself a useful tool in getting what they wanted.

Never a human being. Never a young girl with feelings and thoughts. Rose, to them, was not a child deserving of love and respect.

And, Charmaine feared, she never would be. Not to anyone but her.

Releasing her precious sister, she mouthed I love you.

Rose smiled and nodded once. Charmaine knew her sister would return the words, but the last time she made that mistake in front of their parents...

She still had nightmares over their disregard for the broken leg and fractured ribs Rose bore for weeks. Their parents did nothing to Rose. They'd never lifted a hand to Rose in her life.

Their cousin Bobby, on the other hand, held no such compunctions. Particularly at school, where the staff were too afraid of losing their jobs to punish him.

"The semester will be over before you know it. I promise," she whispered.

Giving Charmaine a sad smile, Rose stepped away. Other family, satisfied the blight on their perfect world stood far enough back, gathered around Charmaine. Blessings, congratulations and encouragements showered over her. Nearly drowning her with the weight of them all.

She smiled and nodded, pretending to listen and accept the words. She watched only Rose until her sister disappeared from sight. melting into the backdrop of the crowded airport.

Stay safe for me, Rose. I promise, I'll be back soon. Hang in there little sister.

Heart heavier with worry over Rose than ever before, Charmaine took her bag and boarded the plane. In her seat, she pulled from her bag a book by Indu Sundaresan. The author was a favorite of Rose's, so Charmaine promised to give them a try. Holding the book open in her lap, she started.

Only the stains left on the pages drew her attention from the words. Some smeared words, others darkened the color of the page.

Her vision blurred as she realized what caused those stains. Of all the things Rose faced accusations of, one thing Charmaine had even come to believe. But those stains proved otherwise.

Regardless of other peoples' words and claims, Rose did cry. She simply confined her tears to the pages of her books.