THE RETURN OF THE FORGOTTEN

IA'S

stion. As I leaned back in my chair, I pulled off my glasses, rubbing the br

ed v

or myself but for my twin sister, Aurora. I pulled her out of the orphanage she'd been stuck in. D

t for both of us. A chance to fina

wi

ybe seven. We were both supposed to be adopted together, or at least th

opted, glad I had a way out. But that relief was short-lived. It took exactly

icket fence and neatly trimmed hedges. The kind of place a kid dreams of growing up in. I thought A

, as she often was, battling an endless string of illnesses

omewhere along the line, my desperation twisted into fear. Fear of what bringing

e her. I argued she'd be a burden, that she'd leave them broke. I was prot

l protec

every word, and it shattered something bet

with icy silence or sharp words. She only talks to me when she wants to hurl so

can. I'd visit her in the hospital late at night, slipping out of the house when my adoptive parents w

e neve

. The sharp crack of the front door echoed

ro

he kitchen. She was there, rummaging through the frid

ouses are un

g more hope than I meant it to. I tried to

slamming the fridge shut. "It's Aurora to you,"

y t

sing into my chest like a dull blade.

ard her footsteps retreat. This was our pattern no

n't bring myself

+++++++

ather's voice thundered through the house as I

fu

aught in my throat,

deer in headlights. And I hated it. No, I loathed it, every cell in my body

his bloodshot eyes dril

ven bother

desperate for something beli

same bullshit you said yesterday! You can't keep p

nal when he spends his nights drowning in cheap beer? But instead, I swallowed t

he bo

t the wall behind me put an end to that escape. Before I could

cohol but sharp as broken glass. "You're gonna quit that job and find one that

eath washed over my face a

into my lungs. But then his lips curled into a grin that made my blo

h me as his hand dro

olently. "Please-please, I'll do a

head, like I was some disobedient

etallic clink of the buckle unraveling se

d out, trembling, my voic

cruel. "Oh, don't worry. Yo

n't. I n

ng away but h

, hm?" He stated and I closed my eyes to stop anymore tears fro

biti

him let go but it was no use. He's big

per. "Please stop!" I screame

in deeper penetrating the flesh complete

et my guard down and he took advantage of that

nees gave out and I fell to the floor

wn as his massive b

s he started to t

when he hit me

d to kiss my skin leaving mark

s beer bottle and started to car

hen he began to p

ished inside of me and left

y fault for

, he doesn't know

++++++++++

beside me, his legs dangling in the cool water as the late afternoon sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink. I leaned

e. He nudged me lightly with his shoulder. "And don't try t

"What, I can't enjoy the view without you psychoanalyzing me? Ma

He splashed a little water in my direction,

your annoying ass," I tea

sharp jolts of pain through me. The bite mark on my neck throbbed, a fresh reminder of a life I couldn't fully esc

p at the cascade of water. "This place doesn't get old, does i

y voice softer than I

hifting from playful to concerned. "You sure you'r

ng my head. "You worry

ected over the years. It wasn't that I didn't trust him-I did, more than anyone. But there were t

"how's your Instagram game going? An

'm starting to think they just want me for my lo

ty?" I snorted. "Is that

ing water at me again. "But for real, what about you

g out a soft laugh. "No

grin. "They'd have their

ipples spread from where our feet dipped in. The pain in my body was like a living thing, clawin

cks. "You know, Mal, if we could stay here f

the roar of the waterfall. But I knew better.

ow, I could laugh with Ian, even as the

/

corners of this house. I stood at the stove, stirring the pasta sauce as "Congratulations" by Mac Miller and Bilal played softly from the speaker. My fi

s fucking

tightened slightly, but I quickly pushed the worry aside, focusing on

her ear, her laughter floating into the kitchen before I even saw her face. And when I did-when I caught s

replaced by a mask of indifference so sharp it almost felt cruel. She pulled the phone away from her

like the change in her demeanor hadn't just knocked the wind out of me. "You're home early.

lked to the fridge, pulled out a bottle of water, and sta

rmined not to let the sil

do I

sip of water before turning to leave the kitchen, her f

myself feel the sting of it-the hurt, the frustration, the ache that came with

er now. The music filled the silence Aurora had left behind, Mac Miller

, she'd smile at me again. Maybe one da

er, humming softly, and ho