I avoided Brat the whole week. I even turned my phone off. I wanted nothing to do with him. I was just done being everybody’s second best; I decided to live my own life without friends.

I didn’t need them anyway, and I couldn’t care less what anybody thought of me anymore. I was just done with everything.

Even with Kim. I decided to let her be. I hadn’t spoken with her since that afternoon on the phone, she was mad at me coz I never showed up when she asked to see me.

It was funny because she did that to me a lot of times and I never complained about it. Well to hell with them all, I decided.

At home I talked with no one, even during dinner I’d just eat and head straight to my room and that seemed to fit everyone perfectly.

Friday morning my sister offered to take me to school. I didn’t mind who was taking me to school as long as I was getting there. On the way we were quiet for some time, until she decided to break the ice.

“What’s up with you Lee?” she asked.

“Nothing,” I replied looking outside the window.

“You hardly talk with anyone at home and you say it’s nothing. I’m your sister you know you can talk to me,”

Very funny ‘cause I didn’t know that, I wanted to say but didn’t have the guts. So I just kept quiet.

“Come on Lee, don’t make me beg,”

This wasn’t happening.

“Really? I’ve been miserable and awfully lonely for almost my whole life, and you tell me you only notice that only now?” I couldn’t hold it in anymore I just had to say what was on my mind, it was now or never.

“All you people seem to do is shut me out in that house. I have been put on the side for a very long time and none of you cared enough to notice. Not you, not mom or daddy for that matter. Ya’ll so close to each other, I’m just the intruder in that house. At school no one cares. And you know what Lily? It sucks, it really sucks. I’m surprised that it only took my silence for me to be heard,”

I could tell that she was out of words. I only saw tears falling from her eyes.

“I’m sorry sis, I didn’t know,” she finally said.

“No its fine. I’m over that already,” I said trying so hard to hide my emotions. She pulled over and stopped.

“No it’s not fine Lee. I’m really sorry. It’s not fair, I should have been there for you like a real sister but instead I chose to be selfish and I’m very sorry my sister,” tears just fell off my face too.

“Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?” she went on.

“Of cause I forgive you, you’re my sister and I love you,” we hugged for a moment.

“I love you too and I promise I’ll make it up to you I promise,”

“Don’t make promises you won’t be able to keep Lily,” I said.

“You’ll see Lee I’m serious this time,” she assured me and started the car again.

On the way I told her about Brat and Michelle. She told me to give him a chance and hear his side of the story but I knew that I wouldn’t dare. He was part of my past now and I wanted to keep it that way. At least I turned my phone on and there were lots of voice mail messages from Brat and Kim. I wasn’t interested in any of them anymore, it was my turn to be selfish now.

***

Tell us: Do you think Lee’s relationship will get better with her sister?