Page 60 of Twisted in Obsession

“But you got it?” Sunshine asks with a toothy smile, placing her book down on the bed.

“I shouldn’t give you this,” I say, shaking my head.

“Please, Journey,” Sunshine begs, folding her hands together.

“One piece,” I say, tossing her the Reeses peanut butter cups. “Your doctors are going to kill me.”

Sunshine grins with chocolate-filled teeth, beaming up at me as she bites into another cup.

“So, where are you going tonight?” she asks, munching on the candy like it's the best thing ever.

“Down by the river. We're having a bonfire and hanging out. I should be back by midnight.” I eye her as she nods.

“I know the rules, J. Lock my door, put a chair under it. I'll be okay. You don't have to worry about me.” She gives me a toothy chocolate grin again, giggling when I roll my eyes.

“You know I worry about you and…” My eyes stray to the door and to the person beyond the door passed out on the couch.

“She's sleeping, right? I'll be fine, J. I swear it. Pinkie swears and promises.” She holds out her pinkie.

I blow out a breath with an uneasy feeling taking me over. But despite that, I latch my pinkie with hers. I'm young and free, and I deserve a night out.

“Pinkie swears and promises.” In unison, we make an x over our hearts with the pinkies we swore with.

“You worry too much,” she says, licking her fingers.

“You’re my baby sister. I'm supposed to worry.”

She smiles. “Go have fun. You deserve it. I'll be here watching Grey's.”

I roll my eyes. “There's no way you should be watching that. You’re way too young to understand.”

“Okay, Mom,” she teases, turning the show on with the click of her remote. “I’m eleven, not a moron. Besides, I’m reading at a college level and have straight A’s. I’m mature for my age.” She sticks her tongue out at me.

She’s right. She’s smart as hell for an eleven year old and so mature. Sometimes, I think if she wasn’t so sick and stuck on the sidelines, that she’d master everything around her. But she’s sick and stuck in this bed.

More tears fall. That was the last time I truly spoke to her. I stupidly went out to a bonfire on the banks of the river, and she endured something no eleven-year-old should. Something my mother never should have allowed or been in on.

I swallow hard, sneaking in through my window with ease. Alcohol dances across my breath, and I giggle when I fall through to the floor. Tonight was a good night hanging out with my friends from school. We sat around a fire on the banks of the river, drinking some wine coolers Mary's parents had left out, and talked until two in the morning. I lost track of time, realizing I had left my little sister alone for too long. But it’s been one of those nights that brings joy to my heart. Plus, it got me out of this house and away from my mom. I can only handle being the only conscious adult in the house for so long before I lose my shit. So, once a month, I try to go out with my friends and just be a kid. My sister seems to understand. Even if the guilt from leaving her behind eats away at me.

She should be able to be a kid, too. Not just lie in bed while she wilts away. I swear, I’ve taken her to more doctor’s appointments than I ever thought possible, and they never had good answers for me. The good doctors are unattainable because of our shitty health insurance from the government. We’re stuck with long waitlists and doctors who don’t give a shit about us. I’m doing the best I can for her, but it never seems to be enough. She needs a heart transplant, that much I know. Hell, she’s even on the list. But each day, her health is getting worse, and I fear she’s going to die before I can ever get her to a proper doctor that won’t cost an arm and a leg.

"Please don't," Sunshine's fear-filled voice quivers, echoing off the walls.

I freeze, fear slithering up my spine, and I break out in a cold sweat.

"Shhh," a man's deep voice booms through the paper-thin walls of the trailer.

My breath catches in my fucking throat. Every muscle in my body locks up when he grunts something out. My thoughts run rampant, my heart speeding up as I make my way out of my bedroom door and into the hall to investigate, being as quiet as possible.

"Hurry up," my mother's impatient voice calls out from the living room. "I'm sure she'll be home soon. You need to give me what I want and fuck off," she hisses, more than likely referring to me, which means she knew I wasn’t in my bedroom like I said I’d be. Meaning she doesn’t give a fuck whether I stay or go.

But I'm home. What…

"Shut up and take this," he grumbles, and my mother giggles with glee.

In a daze, I walk further down the hall, making sure to miss the squeaks and creaks of the floorboards. My heart hammers in my throat, and vomit rests on the back of my tongue. Sunny pleads again for whoever it is to stop doing what they're doing, but the man doesn't listen. He doesn't fucking listen when she starts to cry and doesn't listen when she begs more. Fear races through me for the safety of my little sister. I've told her over and over again to lock her door. But I wasn't here to protect her. I went out with my friends instead. Fuck. This can’t be happening to her.

I peek into her bedroom, finding it dark and disheveled. No sign of them. Her cries increase from the opposite side of the trailer. Maybe if I wasn't so fucking drunk, I could have realized she was in my mom's bedroom and not in her room. Fuck. I sway, walking down the hallway again, and stop in the living room, staring at the woman who never should have become a mother in the first place.

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