Shortly after dropped Amanda off at daycare, Lilly headed over to Western Psychiatric. The morning started off pleasant between the two sisters; but both were equally happy to see one another. Yet, Lilly already could see just how hard Christina was trying not to become all emotional.
" Your doctor said that it be a better thing, it was just us," as Lilly shut the door behind," I thought that all these years, you were mom's favorite. Then when I found you lying on that mattress, hearing what you telling me. I knew you just wanted to be loved, just like me. We both needed what Mom failed to provide."
Christina nodded softly," I used to run away go there, to the beach while I was pregnant. Cliff would hurt me, it was the only place that I felt safe. He always find me though, slap me around. Another time I came back, felt Amanda was kicking for the first time. All I could do was cry, wanting to go home but Cliff would kill me. "
IT was a good thing that he was dead, Lilly still hated what he did to her sister," Amanda wasn't born at hospital. Was she born where I found you?"
Christina shook her head, " He locked me up in some room, all I could do is cry out in pain. Didn't help that he beat me up, just the night before. Once Amanda was born, I held her; knowing she was all I had. When Cliff saw that I had a girl, he was pissed. He hit me, telling me that she was mistake. He made me sleep in that room, so I made a makeshift crib for her."
" The laundry basket."
" It was all that I could do Lil, he fly into a rage when she'd cry all night. Make me have sex with me, then throw me onto the floor when Amanda would cry out."
Lilly felt terrible for what her sister had to endure," That how the addiction started?"
"Cliff gave me it, I just started taking them. I knew Amanda needed me, so much so that I woke up one day knowing I had go home and find us someplace better to live. Cliff wanted me to do a drug thing, but instead I reached out to Scotty."
Perhaps it was trust or the fact that Christina knew that Scotty would never harm her. With the truth being that she couldn't go to her directly only to be pushed away, he was the only choice left," How soon after that did you find Dad?"
" Not long, felt bad for stealing some of his wife's jewelry. I still hate him for leaving us, we lost everything when he left. He could have still taken us away from Mom, we didn't deserve grow up the way that we did."
Lilly sighed," You cried so hard that night after dad took us to the beach. Remember I read to you that night, all you wanted was him to come back. His visit hurt more than it helped."
" We got a chance to be sisters, be kids again. The day Lil, we were happy. Ran around, it was so different. Not when we had to head back, I didn't want to go back. That's why I would run away to the beach," as Christina began screaming loudly while still crying, " You have no idea Lil, what I even feel. Having a perfect life, I hate you !"
With her screaming osculating, Lilly was then ushered out as two nurses came in trying to restrain Christina from lashing out.
It hurt to see her sister that way, but inside Lilly knew she was terrible sister. As her own tears now threatened to fall, she sat down on a couch in the hallway. What she wasn't expecting was to see Scotty walking down the hall.
Right away, he noticed the look on her face, "What Happened?"
" I did the counseling private thing that the doctors thought would help. Christina started opening up, then she just snapped. She said she hated me. I can't blame her Scotty, I pushed her away. She could have come home and have Amanda safely here."
Scotty sighed as he sat down beside her," You both had a bad childhood, a mom who wasn't a good example of a parent. What Christina did with her life isn't your fault, she still loves you despite what happened."
He knew that his words weren't enough, " I'll stay, Chris might need me."
" At least you won't hurt her, she feels safe with you," seeing that Scotty was reminded of Elisa just by being inside of this place," You still miss her?"
" Yeah, but she's not in pain anymore. What she did was the only way she'd feel free. I just don't want that to happen to Chris. I worried that it would happen to you, after the shooting. If anything I screwed up, got sloppy when you needed me. Should have been more a friend."
Lilly gently touched his hand," Hey, I did say that and you saved my life. We had our ups and downs but through it all, your still my best friend. The only person I can open up to."
He saw just how much she valued their friendship, he did as well. For hours they sat there debating what to do next. By the afternoon, Lilly left to spend lunchtime with Amanda. While Scotty was finally able to see Christina whom was now lying down in bed.
As he sat down, he gently rubbed her back," Proud of you for opening up. You did a good thing."
" You know?"
" No, Lil didn't tell me the details. She's worried like I am for you."
Christina continued to cry softly, as her anger rose inside," You have no idea what I've been through, being beaten and humiliated. He even raped me while I was pregnant then smacked me around. Made fun of my big stomach. Won't let me see a doctor, hit me for trying to sneak out to get something that I was craving."
Scotty felt terrible for her," What Cliff did to you, shouldn't have happened. He's dead ; been dead for eight months."
" Lil never had to go through what I did, she was supposed to be my damn sister. He shouldn't have come back that day to take us to the beach. Lousy scum, nice thing to do your five and seven year old daughters; whom just wanted to be loved. Had an alcoholic mother who we had to take care of. "
He let out a breath," At the time he didn't realize how it would affect you two. He realized that later after he sobered up."
" Not an excuse, you don't do that to two kids that were in need of love. No one to protect or love us. I was only three when he left. When it came back, I was so stupid in thinking that Lil and I would be sisters again."
Just as Scotty was about to speak, Christina slapped him hard across the face.