Chapter 5

It was Laurie who woke us up, two hours later.

I’m sorry, one might watch a lot of scary movies and be familiar with the sound of a woman screaming on screen. Hell, it’s a staple of the genre. It’s why the lead actresses are sometimes referred to as “Scream Queens”.

You think you know screams. You don’t. Not real screams. Not screams born of real, honest-to-God terror. The terror that impales you with it’s hooks, latches onto you, and violently rips your soul from your body.

That was the scream Laurie made.

I was out of my bed in a flash and down the hall before Dad & Mom could open their bedroom door.

Flinging her door open, I found Laurie wrapped up in her sheets, twisting and flailing against them.

Think “The Exorcist” kind of flailing.

“Laur’s, Laur’s ... it’s ok ... It’s ok.” I said, jumping onto the bed beside her and wrapping my arms around her, holding her close.

She stared up at me, eyes wide, gulping air. I could tell she wasn’t actually was seeing me, her mind was still escaping whatever hell it had descended into.

I just continued to stroke her hair and rock her.

By this time, Mom and Dad had run into the room. I just looked up at them while holding my sister.

“Laurie had a bad dream.” I said simply.

“I get her one of my Zoloft.” Mom said, disappearing again.

“No! No! I don’t want to sleep! I remember when I sleep!” Laurie gasped.

“Laurie, honey... “ Dad started, kneeling down next to the bed and taking her hand. “You need to rest. Those ... boys ... won’t hurt you anymore, OK? We will talk to that judge as soon as the courthouse opens and get the restraining order. They won’t be able to come near you ever again.”

Laurie gave a small whimper. “Not here. Not in this room. They ... they...” She couldn’t finish the sentence, but we both knew what she meant.

They raped her in this room.

“She can sleep in my room today.” I said. “I’ll sleep here tonight.”

Mom returned with a pill and a dixie cup in her hands. Laurie untangled herself from the sheets, placed the pill in her mouth, then swallowed the water. “Ok ... but ... Gabe? Will you stay with me? At least until I fall asleep?” Laurie said, looking up at me.

“Of course, Laurie. I’ll be with you as long as you need.” I replied, kissing the top of her head.

I helped her into my room and tucked her under the covers. After rotating the blinds to block out the sun I laid on the bed next to her, on top of the covers. I laid facing her, not saying anything, just letting her know I was there.

I’m not sure if it was the pill, sheer exhaustion, my presence, or a combination of all three, but within 10 minutes her eyes became droopy and closed. A couple minutes after that I heard her breathing change to slow, deep, and steady.

“Sweet dreams, sis.” I said, lightly kissing her forehead. Then I slid off the bed, tip-toed across the room, and shut the door softly behind me.

I found Mom and Dad downstairs at the table. We had bought some muffins at the store during our shopping trip and they each had one in front of them, along with a glass of juice.

“Laurie’s asleep.” I said simply, grabbing a box of cereal and a bowl.

“Thanks, honey.” Mom replied, giving me a weary smile.

“No problem.” I said, after pouring milk on my cereal and sitting at the table.

“I’m glad she felt safe enough to tell you about ... this.” Mom said, gratitude in her eyes, but also a touch of sadness. “Though I wonder why she didn’t tell us.”

“No idea.” I said, between gulps of raisin bran. “Maybe because I’m closer in age to her? Or maybe she thought you might think it was he fault?”

Both of them quickly opened their mouths to protest, but I beat them to the punch.

“I know. I know. That’s not true. Of course it isn’t her fault, but those assholes ... Sorry, Dad...” I said, quickly.

“No, that was pretty accurate, they are fucking assholes, Son.” Dad said, grim faced.

Wow. I had never heard my father curse before. I didn’t think he even knew how.

“ ... those assholes really messed with her head. At this point she’s not really sure which way is up.” I finished.

They both nodded, clearly considering my words and worrying about their fragile little girl sleeping upstairs.

“You know ... the doctor ... at the hospital ... wanted to help schedule her abortion, right?” I said, running the spoon idly through the remaining milk in the bottom of my bowl.

Dad just put his face in both his hands for a moment. After a second or two he looked up, weariness written all over his face.

“Do I even want to know what she said?” he asked, dragging his hands down his face.

“She didn’t want to decide yet.” I said.

Dad blew out air between the hands in front of his mouth, almost like a balloon deflating.

“Well, I guess that’s something, then.” Dad said, a mixture of relief and anxiety in his voice. “Though I hate the idea of her having to carry one of those bastards babies.” he sighed.

“I don’t know. All these policies and laws hit a little different when it’s your little girl caught in the cross-fire, don’t they?” He asked, turning toward Mom.