Dad°°°

She confronted him. He felt cornered and lashed out.

I didn't mean to. I couldn't stop myself. I hit my wife.

Things became more worse, to avoid seeing Mama's hurt face, he began to sleep in motels. Anywhere but home. During this escapades, he had gotten a coworker pregnant.

Pica demanded I take responsibility.

Oh, what have I done?

That was the last entry. I began to piece the puzzles together. Annette is Darien, Taw and Keith's mother. Dad's first wife.

Mama was our mother. Dad's second wife.

Pica was Dad's third wife, the one whose wedding Ryk told us about.

I closed the book, tears trickled down my face. Each and every fiber of me thrilled with rage. I wasn't supposed to be born.

Mama wouldn't be dead by now!

It's all his fault!

I screamed and threw the journal at the wall. The pages scattering all over the place.

Aunt Dara burst in, worry all over her face.

"Are you alright? I heard you scream"

"You knew, didn't you?"

"What?"

"You're her sister, the only family she has. You knew about everything. Everything she went through!"

She smiled weakly and sat next to me. Her pants had dirt and thorns all over them.

"Yes...I knew but what could I do? Your mother was so smitten with him. My words practically went into one ear and went straight out the other!" She held my hand and continued to speak "I warned her about your father but she claimed he was a changed man. That he changed because of her, I knew it was bull right from the beginning but she looked so happy whenever she spoke of him. I didn't want to take away that happiness, so I let her be happy"

Her other hand brushed my cheeks, wiping away my tears

"When he first hit her, she told me. I was so furious but she begged that he didn't do it on purpose, blah blah blah, but I knew once it started it won't stop. Your father, no offense intended, is a coward and an asshole"

I chuckled. She was right.

"I'm so sorry you have to go through all of this because of him. If only I had forcefully made her stay away from him in the beginning but...look now, I have a very cute and beautiful niece. I'm sorry if I've never been there to support you or protect you at some point in life. I just want you to know that I love and cherish you very much"

I hugged her. Sobbing heavily.

"There is something I have to tell you, it's about Eudora's fiancè"

I spoke into her shoulder.