You're So Fragile

Chapter 12

     "Look I'm going to my room but, if it means that much to you, then by all means, come with because I'm smoking up there." I walk away and I hear him get up and mutter a curse word or two.

     By the time I'm in my room and sitting on my bed, he reaches the doorway. "You can sit if you'd like." I motion for him to sit on the bed. He accepts the invitation. We sit in silence for a while. I'm already on my second cigarette when I decide to break the silence. He had a pensive look on his face. Being in this room brings back memories for him.

     "What happened to her?.. To Lillian, I mean?" I boldly ask.

     "I can't- It's a long story.."

     "Well, I obviously have the time."

     "Grace, I can't-"

     "Please. Tell me. What happened to you?

     He takes a deep breath and lets out a huge sigh. He looks at me and I give him a look that suggests I'm determined to know and I can handle whatever story he tells me.

     "Alright," He says resignedly, "well, you already know she died about a year after the picture you found was taken. But the story begins a little after... Lillian was walking home from a friend's house. They lived about two blocks away. You have to understand that my family has never really been liked. They were envious of my late relatives' success here. Most of the town view my great great grandfather as this money-hungry tycoon. Anyway, she was walking home when a couple of drunk guys with a grudge against the family success recognized her. They stopped to 'ask for directions'. Now, Lily was the sweetest girl you could ever meet, plus she was beautiful. But she was a perfect target. She was glad to help them out. But as soon as she stepped within arms reach, she was done for.. They had dragged her into the woods nearby and they started beating her. They tormented her. They even tried blaming her. They said, 'A pretty little thing like you, coming from a trash family like that is asking for this'... And then one by one they... raped her.. The doctor said she had "severe tearing" in the genital region. When they finished raping her, they resumed beating her. One hard blow to the face left her partially blind in her left eye. Finally, one of them knocked her unconscious. They left her to die on the side of the road like a fucking animal.

     "A neighbor who was taking a walk found her after an hour or two. The hospital called my mom and it wasn't until we arrived that we discovered what happened. My mom... she just completely lost it. She screamed and cried so loud, they tried to sedate her. My dad convinced them not to. He was handling the news in a different manner. I could see it in his eyes. He was far from father-of-the-year, but Lillian was his baby girl. He wanted blood... Lillian was in the hospital for two weeks. She was bruised up everywhere. Most of her open wounds left scars. She had been tortured in ways unimaginable.. She was fucking twelve years old for fuck's sake.."

     I really wish I hadn't asked him to tell me this. Tears came out of me but I did my best to hide them. Carter choked up a bit, but he didn't cry. He didn't let himself. Instead, he continued.

     "She was released after the two weeks. But that's when her own destruction came. The nightmares. The screaming. The sleeping too much, then not sleeping at all. She was falling apart from the inside out. Every sense of security and safety she had, was stolen from her by those monsters. She couldn't handle herself. My mom was the only thing keeping her together, barely. Every waking moment, from then on, was spent trying to comfort Lillian.. Lily would become manic. Usually, when everyone was asleep. She tried throwing herself down the stairs a few times. That's why the lock was on the outside of the door. My dad installed it to keep her in. She was a danger to herself..