"I got some news that I never wanted to find." Said Mrs. Davis. She put the knife down, rinsed her hands in the sink, and collapsed into a kitchen chair.
"Mom, what happened?" Asked Alyson.
"Honey, I've been smoking for eight years now. I smoke to relieve stress."
"What's so horrible that's been going on. Mommy, you're always so cheerful."
"There's things I never wanted you to know."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't want it to affect you. Pain hurts."
"Mom, I know what pain is. Everyone has to face it, so just tell me. It'll help, trust me."
"Alyson, your father and I went out to lunch today. I was going to go over to Mrs. Hansen's house and decided to leave you a message on the answering machine so you wouldn't worry. Your father left to use the restroom and my cell phone died, so I borrowed his. I looked at his contacts in his phone book. Right after my name, guess what I see? Darling Destiny. He's having an affair!" Sobbed Mrs. Davis. She covered her face with her hands and cried. Alyson's mind was numb. This wasn't possible, it couldn't be. Why would he do this? How could he?
EMERGENCY
"Cade, can you meet me at the coffee shop? I really need someone to talk to." Said Alyson.
"Yeah, I'll be there. Bye." Said Caden into the phone.
"Becca, I'll be right back. Stay inside, I'll only be gone half an hour at the most." Said Caden.
"I want to come. Don't leave me here." Said Becca.
"It's just for a little bit! Bye." Said Caden. He grabbed his jacket and left. Becca stared at the door, hoping he'd feel guilty and come get her. In was already nine o'clock and Jim and her mother could come home drunk at any time. Shivering, Becca wrapped herself up in the blanket on the couch.
"What's wrong?" Asked Caden when he found Alyson. Tears poured down her face, mixing into the coffee she had in front of her. Her lips trembled.
"Cade, my father is having an affair." She said.
"Aly, I'm so sorry." Said Caden.
"It hurts. How could he do this?" Said Alyson.
Becca woke up as the front door slammed.
"Caden?" She asked sleepily.
"What'reyoudoin'here?"Asked Jim, slurring his words together. Becca froze with fear.
"Areyougoin'taanswerslut? Wellareya?"Asked Jim. Angry and impatient, Jim swung at Becca. Becca fell to the floor, her face stinging. She noticed a red liquid dripping from her nose. Jim had never hit her before, Caden never let him. Tears fell softly onto the brown carpet. Suddenly, she felt a blow to her side. The inpact kicked her into the air and made her roll. Jim reached down and pulled her up by her hair. Becca screamed.
"Shutup!" Shouted Jim. He punched her in the face, making her world go blank as she slipped away.
Caden walked down the slick streets. It had just stopped raining, yet still a cold wind attacked him. He walked up the metal staircase to his apartment building, turned the doorknob and walked into a darkened room. He flicked on the light, but it wouldn't turn on. He crossed the room to turn on the lamp, but tripped on something in the center of the floor. Nervous about what it could be, he turned on the lamp and screamed. His sister, so sweet and innocent, lied on the carpet, steadily bleeding. Splintered bones poked out of her arm. Caden ran to the phone and dialed 911. After a brief conversation, Caden fell next to his sister. He cried shamelessly. He, her only protector, had left her when she needed him most.
THE HOSPITAL
Kevin was concerned. Caden was supposed to have been there after school, but still Caden hadn't shown up to go to the skate park. Impatiently, Kevin skating back and forth in the living room. He rolled his board onto the front porch and jumped down the three steps of stairs. He landed on the cement, wobbling slightly. He was getting better.
The phone rang in the kitchen. Mrs. Davis wiped the flour on her hands on her apron and answered it.
"Hello?" She asked politely.
"Mrs. Davis, could you tell Kevin I can't come over today? Becca's in the hospital."
"Oh no! What happened?" Asked Mrs. Davis. Caden winced, that was the question he wanted to avoid.
"Uh, she, well, um, ah, she, um, she got beat up really bad." Said Kevin.
"Oh my goodness." Said Mrs. Davis, "We'll have to come."
The three of the Davis's shuffled down the hallway to the directed room.
"Hello?" Asked Mrs. Davis, pushing the door open.
"Oh, hi." Said Caden very unthusiasticly. Underneath the blue covers, Becca lied frail and drastically paler. Caden had her left hand in his.
"What happened?" Asked Alyson, bewildered that anyone would harm a child.
"I don't want to talk about it." Said Caden.
"We brought flowers. I hope they'll cheer her up." Said Mrs. Davis.
"She's in a coma. Her's skull is fractured, along with a bunch of other bones." Said Caden angerly.
"Oh, dear." Said Mrs. Davis.
"When did this happen?" Asked Kevin.
"While I was at the coffee shop with Alyson yesterday." Said Caden.
"Have you eaten anything at all?" Asked Mrs. Davis.
"No." Said Caden.
"Why don't I go get you something from the cafeteria?" Asked Mrs. Davis. Before Caden could answer, she had already bounded out the door. Kevin stood up and excused himself to use the bathroom.
"Caden, what happened?" Asked Alyson again.
"My mother's bastard boyfriend beat the shit out of her!" Shouted Caden. The rage that had been building up inside of him threated to spill out on Alyson. It wasn't her fault, she didn't deserve this, but still, he couldn't help it.
"Has he ever hit her before?" Asked Alyson, taking Caden's other hand in hers.
"No, because I was always there to take the beating for her. But this time I wasn't. It's all my fault that she's here."
"No, it's my fault becasue I'm the one you went to see. You left her to see me."
"It's my fault. She wanted to go with, but I left her."
"You didn't know what would happen."
"If she dies, I don't know what I'll do."
"She won't die, she won't die." Said Alyson. A tear trickled down her face.
"But if she does, I'll never be able to tell her how sorry I am. I don't think I ever told her how much I love her."
"Caden, she had to have known. You do so much for her." Said Alyson. She hugged him and Caden broke down. Kevin entered the room, unsure of what to do or say.
Mrs. Davis pulled into the driveway. When she had returned to the hospital room, both Caden and Alyson were in tears. Feeling umcomfortable, she took Kevin home with her. They went shopping for groceries. Now, the two of them were carrying sacks into the house. "Kevin, careful with that one. The eggs are in it." Said Mrs. Davis.
"Okay, mom." Said Kevin, standing on the front porch. Mrs. Davis fumbled with her keys in the lock.
"Strange, I could have sworn we locked the door." Said Mrs. Davis, unlocking the door again. They walked into the house and were shocked by what they saw. Mr. Davis was sitting on one of the couches with a girl sitting beside him. Her hair was long and black, her eyes were brown, and her skin was slightly darker than Mr. Davis'. She was wearing a white skirt that stopped just below her knees, and a light pink button up shirt. She was bouncing a baby boy dressed in overalls on her knee. Was this "Darling Destiny"? And was this child the result of Mr. Davis' affair?