Emmi: Locked Up

I wake up in bed with Zane wrapped around me, even though I told him to stay away. Right now, Dante hates me. They all do, and Zane cuddling me won’t help. I try to move, but his hands grasp me tighter. Wiggling free, I climb from the bed. I step across the room, grab out some clothes and pick up a book.

Opening it, I sit on the floor and look at the pictures of us all. Me, Jamie, my parents. I feel the tears fill my eyes as I look through them. Jamie was so nice. I remember he was always there for me. Until we were about thirteen. Then he wasn’t. Every year it got worse. Then my father died, and things became more toxic.

I look at the picture of us together as babies. Then to my parents, thinking about how they would rather have a child who isn’t theirs and hurt their real child. My head falls forward as I cry. I was destined for death. From the moment they knew I was a girl, I was never meant to live. Their plan always had been to ensure they were released from the burden of me. I f