Two for all of you.


The destruction of Aunt Sue greets us once you step into the house. I hear your tiny intake of breath as you survey the damage. It's too much to bear as I slip out of your arms, dropping to my knees, picking at the scattered porcelain and broken gold across the floor.

"I'm so sorry, Daddy," I say, rubbing my dry cheeks. "She had keys. I didn't let her in. I wasn't going to."

You grab at my shoulders, trying to pull me up, but I dodge your fingers, pushing the shards into a small pile. "I'll clean this up. Don't worry."

This time you kneel, leaning in so close, until I'm forced to look into your gorgeous greens. They stare at me, forcing my attention, not letting me go. "You don't worry about it. This isn't your fault, sweet girl."

I wish…I just wish the tears would come. I need to feel something, but it's like I'm feeling everything, and I don't know how to let it go. To release it all. "Oh, Daddy! I don't know what to do. Tell me what to do! Please!"

You bring me in close, kissing my hair, my forehead, each eye, each cheek. "I'm so sorry you found out this way. We'll get through this together."

"How could he do that to her? How could Dad cheat on Mom? Why would Aunt Sue hurt her own sister like that? I don't understand anything!"

You're quiet as you think over your answer, leaning against the wall, holding me between your legs, petting my hair, calming my nerves just a tiny bit. "Your mom and dad had their problems, and unfortunately, Sue was there to pick up the pieces in all the wrong ways."

"How did I miss it? They never even fought. Not that I saw anyway."

"They each had their own gateways. Your dad drank. You mom worked. When the affair started, I'd actually never seen your dad happier."

"What?" My voice sounds so strangled, so sad. You kiss it all away.

"But he loved you more, sweet girl. He wanted to work on his family, so he left for you. Sue knows that."

"I hate her." And these monstrous feelings coursing through my body. I've never seen so much red before. So much anger. "I wish it was her that died."

"One day…" you say, pulling me in tighter until I can feel nothing but you. Your strong arms. Your hard body. Your care. Your love. "One day she'll get what she deserves."

You take me away from the destruction, tucking my head in so that it's no longer in my sight and all I can see and hear and feel is your skin, your sweet smelling flesh, your heartbeat against my ear. So comforting. So hush-hush.

The hallway is dark, but you know exactly where you're going. My room. With the white walls and nothing but a bed. So soft and downy and cool against our naked flesh. Bouncing just a little when our bodies collide with it. Your kisses and touches and sweet words make me sigh and then moan until my muscles are jelly and darkness overtakes.

"Sleep now. Tomorrow everything will be better."