Rebecca's Bad Day

At the Corner of Happy and Healthy

Daphne stood right outside the kitchen for almost the whole call.

-That sounds like he didn't care.-

-Yeah, well.- My throat is a knot, I try to clear it a bit. For once I wished to be his favorite meant something good for me. -I am his favorite. Why would he?-

Daphne is holding the Reglan and leans against the arch of the hallway.

-I am sorry I couldn't find the acid reflux medicine. Wanna come with me to Walgreens? We can have lunch afterwards.-

Monotone and cold, she never had any medication for reflux in her room.

She just tested me and I failed.

-Daphne, you are not supposed to let me out of the house. You kidnapped me.-

She shakes her head. -I know, but I don't consider this kidnapping. You can leave if you want to, you don't have to call your father behind my back.-

What.

-What? YOU KNOCKED ME OUT DRUGGED ME AND BROUGHT ME HERE, WITHOUT MY CONSENT.-

- Do you want to leave? Fine. I am not him. But I had to bring you here this way, it truly was the only way. What was I supposed to say? Hi, my name is Daphne, your father abducted me sixteen years ago, held me captive for two years. Beat me, raped me and brought his closest psycho friends to babysit me while he raised your brother with Kim in L.A?

That you were born in 1992, almost two years since he abducted me? How was I supposed to approach this?-

Daphne is standing with her arms crossed, her head high.

She really has no regrets for taking me, and the things she is saying are just... too much.

-You kidnapped me, my FUCKING underwear IS DIFFERENT. What the FUCK!- I am deflecting, I don't really wanna keep hearing about what he did.

She rolls her eyes. -I had to change you. You soiled yourself with the cop. And then again after the sedative.-

She shrugs, inhales. She presses her eyes hard, joining her bushy black eyebrows at the top of her nose.

-Rebecca... It's wrong, I know... I shouldn't have brought you here, not like that. But I have observed you long enough to know. You would have told him eventually and he would have killed me before I could get the evidence and show it to you.-

-How long?-

Daphne is taken aback -How long what?-

-How long did you "observe me" for?- I do the air quotes and everything.

-Oh, well... Uhm.-

She opens her mouth and closes it again.

-Since you were six.- She finally answers closing her eyes shut. Afraid.

The cup. No, not the cup again. It can't be.

-Is that when... when you got my cup?- My heart races.

Daphne bites the inside of her cheek again, rolls her eyes while breathing and smiles at me once she exhales.

What's going through her head? She seems to guess everything in mine, she's known me since I was six.

She really seems to know me.

-You really don't remember that day?- Daphne is exhausted.

-No... Could you tell me? It's worked in therapy before.-

-Okay, I'll tell you. Sit.- Daphne motions for me to follow her to the old ratty couch, were another set of cuff and chain waits for me.

We sit facing each other.