Chapter 4

Peter’s footsteps echoed through the dark streets like an omen, his mind a blur of thoughts, emotions, and memories. It had been an evening of debauchery, an evening he had been waiting for since he was old enough to understand his desires. And yet, as he walked through the deserted streets, he was left with a sense of emptiness. Melanie Burke, experienced and eager, had been his first. But instead of feeling elated, he was left with a nagging question - was this really it? Was this all that he had been waiting for, all that he had been building up in his mind? Was losing his virginity supposed to be this underwhelming?

He quickened his pace, desperate to escape these confusing emotions. The darkness offered no comfort, no solace, as he stumbled through the familiar streets that now seemed foreign. He had thought that losing his virginity would be a turning point in his life, that he would finally feel like a man. But instead, he was left with a sense of disillusionment.

As he approached his house, that feeling increased. The lights were still on, indicating that somebody was still awake, maybe waiting for him.

With a heavy heart, he pushed open the front door and trudged up the stairs to his room.

It is said that women have a sixth sense for these things. As soon as Marie saw her brother, she knew. “Poor Zoey, ” she thought. Yes, she knew she was being irrational, after what she and her friends had done. But as if on cue, her phone buzzed with a message from Zoey. “Peter had sex with Melanie!!!” it read, followed by three crying emojis. “It should have been me!!!” The next message came. She couldn’t bring herself to reply to Zoey’s jealous message. “Yes, it should have been you, but you chose to give it to somebody else, ” she thought. “Just as the rest of us did, ” came the next thought. She wondered when she would be receiving the same news about John.

Marie felt a sharp pain in her chest as she watched her brother retreat to his room. He had seen her, but had not acknowledged her presence. In fact, the only time he spoke to her was when they talked about school or chores. Their leisure talks about anything and everything were gone. Peter had become so cold and distant, even to their mother who was trying her best to act like everything was normal.

But Marie couldn’t ignore the tension that hung in the air whenever Peter was around. She missed the days when they would laugh together and share their thoughts without hesitation. Now, it seemed like she didn’t even exist to him.

As she lay in bed that night, Marie couldn’t help but wonder why she had not thought about how her brother would feel when Jenny volunteered her cousin to satisfy their sexual urges. Right now, it seemed so stupid! Couples were having sex all the time, but the four friends, instead of getting boyfriends, chose to give it away to somebody else. Even worse, the reason to do it was moot now that everybody knew.

The next day at school, the atmosphere was tense for Marie as she tried to avoid everybody’s gaze. She could feel eyes on her at all times, but whenever she would look up, people would quickly avert her gaze. It was clear that Marie and Zoey’s reputations were shot.

During lunch, Marie sat alone at a corner table in the cafeteria. She watched as other girls giggled and flirted with their boyfriends, feeling a bit of envy. She couldn’t help but wonder if things would be different if she had given herself to John instead of Jenny’s cousin.

As the afternoon dragged on, Marie felt more and more isolated from her brother and her friends. She couldn’t shake off the guilt and regret that weighed heavy on her chest. And worst of all, she felt like she had lost her brother Peter forever.

That evening, Marie’s mother called a family meeting. As her parents sat her and Peter down at the kitchen table, Marie couldn’t help but read her brother’s body language. He was looking at their parents with a cold indifference in his face. Any other time they would be sharing glances, perhaps a reassuring pat on the leg, something. But now, she was sitting next to a statue shaped like her brother.

It was clear he didn’t want to be here.

“Peter, we need to talk about what happened with your sister and her friends,” their mother started.

Peter rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’d rather not,” he replied curtly.

“Peter, this is serious,” their father chimed in sternly. “Actions have consequences.”

“I don’t see why you’re making me the guilty party,” Peter retorted. “I was one of the victims, not one of the perpetrators.”

Marie felt heartache as she watched this argument unfold. She knew that Peter had been hurt by what she and her friends had done and it hurt her even more to see him pulling away from their parents.

“Peter, you can’t allow this incident to define your relationship with your sister,” their father finally spoke up.

“Why not?” Peter asked.

Marie flinched at his harsh tone. She knew that he was just lashing out because he was hurting but it still stung nonetheless.

“I know that you’re upset about what happened and I’m sorry for not thinking about how it would affect you,” she said quietly.

Peter’s expression revealed nothing. “It’s okay. It’s not as if I were your brother or something like that.”

Marie’s heart fluttered painfully at her brother’s harsh words, the weight of his disappointment and anger heavy on her shoulders. She searched for the right words to restore their bond, but they eluded her like wisps of smoke.

Their mother’s voice broke through the tension, gentle yet commanding in its tone. “Peter, we are a family. We must learn to forgive each other and move forward together.”

Peter’s voice dripped with bitterness, his tone laced with anger and hurt. “Forgive? How can I possibly forgive them for making a fool of me and using me for their own selfish amusement?”

Marie looked down. Now her actions were affecting all her family.

Their father’s voice cut through the tension, stern and commanding. “That’s enough, Peter. We all made a mistake here. What matters now is how we move forward from this.”

“What was my mistake?” Peter asked. “Trust her?” He turned away, his expression somber. It was clear that he wasn’t ready to forgive yet.

Their mother spoke up once more, her voice gentle but determined. “I know you’re angry with your sister right now, Peter. But she is your family and she loves you.”

After a moment of silence, Peter finally turned to look at their mother, his expression unreadable.

“We will work through this together as a family,” their mother continued firmly.

Marie felt tears prick at her eyes as she looked at her brother and parents seated around the table, each one struggling to find a way to mend the damage between them. It was going to take time for things to go back to normal, but she was determined to do whatever it took to earn back her brother’s trust and love.

“Can we please just put this behind us?” she pleaded softly.

“Fine,” Peter said quickly. Too quickly. It was clear that he didn’t mean it.

“Peter, be serious!” their mother scolded.