IRENE
My ears rang at her words, jaw hung loose as I stared with my heart palpating in my chest. She was shivering, hugging her arms as the forbidden words spilled from her mouth.
No one blinked. No one moved a muscle.
The fear in her voice worsened the tension in the room and in her eyes, I saw the horror of the unspeakable. The air grew thicker, as the weight of her words settled like a foot against our throats.
Aunt had her hand over her mouth, frozen in shock as Ralph made a fist by his sides, his face tight with anger and something else as he lowered his head. It was in shame.
"I couldn't stop him. He was too strong-" she trembled again. Her voice broke and her tears spilled over like a tap left to run.
"I don't buy this. You expect me to believe you didn't throw yourself on hi
