It had been a rough morning.
Charlotte could feel the stress and anxiety coursing through her veins as she struggled to get her chores done. She had spent the first hour of their chore time trying to help Bayley with making the beds and cleaning the bathroom. Becky had been dragged away the second the girls were woken up, which then caused both Sasha and Bayley to have major meltdowns while they were supposed to be getting dressed.
It had taken every effort Charlotte had in her exhausted body just to get her sisters downstairs on time, let alone herself. Becky had woken up several times throughout the night crying out in pain. And she woke Sasha up every time she cried out as well. Thankfully for Charlotte, Bayley was the only one who somehow slept through the night.
"Sasha, finish up your breakfast, okay?" said Charlotte, watching as Sasha swirled eggs around on her plate, the girl hardly eating a single bite of her food.
Sasha ignored her sister, the young girl barely acknowledging anything going on around her. Charlotte was thankful that her mother had had to rush off to work as soon as their chores were done and their father was still upstairs with Becky.
"What's wrong, Sash?" asked Charlotte, reaching over to touch her sister's shoulder. Sasha looked up briefly, shrugging.
"Hey, talk to me, sweetpea. What's on your mind?" asked Charlotte, scooting closer to her sister. Bayley looked up from her own breakfast, smiling at her sisters.
"I know what's wrong with Sasha!" she declared, seemingly proud that she knew something Charlotte did not. Charlotte glanced at Sasha, who rolled her eyes before turning away from the table.
"I have to get ready for school. I'll meet you at the limo," muttered Sasha, leaving her breakfast completely uneaten, not even making eye contact before leaving the kitchen.
"What's wrong with Sasha, Bayley?" asked Charlotte, taking a couple more bites of her own breakfast before beginning to clear the plates.
"She's sad," said Bayley, taking another bite of her breakfast and handing her plate to Charlotte. "She told me that Becca wants to die, and then she said that she wishes daddy would just kill us all because it would be easier. Is that true, Charlotte?" asked Bayley, Charlotte's mouth open wide as her 7-year-old sister described the horrid conversation.
"Bayley, go get ready for school," said Charlotte, forgetting about whatever it was she had been doing, her mind instantly turning to Sasha.
"Sasha? Sash, where are you?" called Charlotte, running into the living room.
"Sasha? Sasha, come on, where are you?" called Charlotte again, not wanting her father to hear but also in desperate need of finding her sister.
A noise in the corner of the room caught Charlotte's attention, her eyes immediately scanning the area, catching her sister's two little feet sticking out from behind some statue.
"Hey Sash, is that you?" whispered Charlotte, heading in the direction of her sister, kneeling down when she found her.
"Go away," whispered Sasha, pulling her legs up to her chest, burying her face into her knees.
"Bayley told me what you said to her. I'd really like to talk to you about it," whispered Charlotte, reaching out to touch her sister's leg.
"What do you know? You're only 12. You're not even an adult," whispered Sasha, her voice dangerously close to tears.
"Oh, Sasha….is this why you haven't been able to sleep? How long have you been thinking like this?" asked Charlotte, also on the verge of tears as she looked at her baby sister, realizing that on some level, she was failing her.
Sasha shrugged, her tiny body beginning to shake as she started to cry. "I don't wanna live here anymore," muttered Sasha, sobs escaping her lips as soon as the words did. Charlotte shook her head, wrapping her arms around Sasha as she began to cry even harder.
"Oh, Sasha… I am so sorry. I am so, so, sorry, my love. Why didn't you tell me? Why haven't you talked to me about this?" she asked, gently rocking her back and forth.
"I was scared…." cried Sasha. "I don't wanna get hurt anymore. I don't want my sisters to get hurt anymore. I don't want to live here anymore. I wish I could just go away forever and never have to be hurt by mommy and daddy again!" cried Sasha, gripping Charlotte now as she cried, Charlotte with tears streaming down her own face.
Her heart was breaking. Her mind was racing. How could she have not seen this? How could she have not known that Sasha was suffering so much? Hell, they were all suffering. They were all struggling. But Sasha was only nine. She was only nine and talking about wanting to die. She was nine. Only nine. What nine-year-old should have to live like this?
Charlotte had. Becca had. She just assumed that Bayley and Sasha would.
But they shouldn't have to. None of them should have ever had to.
"It's gonna be okay, Sasha. It's gonna be okay. I know now, alright? I know, and I'm gonna figure out a way to fix it, okay? I'm gonna fix this. I'm gonna make it better. And I'm gonna do a better job of being your big sister, okay? I'm gonna protect you and help you and love you forever and I need you to be around so I can, okay?" whispered Charlotte, holding Sasha as tight as she could.
Sasha nodded, wiggling free of her sister's grip, wiping away her tears. Charlotte gently brushed a strand of brown hair from her sister's eyes, offering her a gentle and reassuring smile.
"Come on, we gotta get to school. I'll even carry you to the limo and walk you to your classroom if you want," said Charlotte, partly not wanting to let her sister out of her sight. Sasha grinned, loving the extra attention and love as her sister scooped her up into her arms, unloading multiple kisses on to her face as they headed out the door.
A/N: Such a hard chapter to write, but here it is! Hope you enjoy and keep reviewing! I love seeing them! Thank you to my faithful followers and reviewers!