SILENCE

FOUR

Quote for the chapter: When it hurts so much that you can't breathe, that's when you know you're still alive.

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"How long have you been here?" He asks causing me to roll my eyes.

Dropping the trashcan, I glared up at him.

"Long enough to want to poke my eyes out. What the heck, dad?"

"Nobody must know of this. Do you understand?" He spoke quickly causing me to cringe at just how pathetic he sounded.

"No, dad. What the heck is going on? And why the f**k are you with my panties? Huh?"

"Language, Joselyn" dad said causing me to scoff.

"Don't you think we're way past that stage. Just answer my f*****g questions, dad" I gritted out causing him to glare at me.

"I'm not entitled to tell you anything. I'll return this when I'm done" dad said holding my underwear to his nose before taking a deep breath.

I cringe in disgust immediately.

That was from my laundry basket.

I clenched my fist in anger watching my dad lick my underwear.

Okay, I wasn't wearing that ever again.

"I'm telling mom" I said causing him to stare at me with a smirk on his face.

"You can try but expect a severe punishment from me if you do" he said before turning the TV on.

"You've lost every right to punish me and my respect for you just went down the drain" I screamed causing him to shrug.

"Suit yourself, Joselyn. Close the door on your way" dad said before pressing play on another video.

Scoffing, I immediately picked up the trashcan before leaving making sure to leave the door OPEN.

As I stomped downstairs to the kitchen, it was then I realized I had my phone with me.

An opportunity wasted like that.

****

Dad had finally left just thirty minutes before school ended.

I heard Jackie and Jason before I even saw them.

From their conversation, some big fight had happened.

Was there a day when big fights didn't happen?

"Hey, Josie" Jackie greeted immediately heading for the pantry.

"Josie, everyone was looking for you during lunch to wish you a happy birthday" Jason said causing me to scoff.

"More like to embarrass me" I mumbled causing him to laugh out loud.

"Mom said you should make dinner" Jackie said causing me to squint my eyes at her.

"Mom didn't tell me anything" I replied causing her to shrug.

"She told me to tell you"

"Really? Well I'm not doing s**t so when she comes back she can ground me for all I care" I replied with a smile.

"Nice one, sis" Jason laughed before heading outside to do God knows what.

Jackie scowled making me smirk at her.

I wasn't stupid.

Mom had asked her to make dinner and she wanted to find a way to dump that on me.

"Whatever" Jackie mumbled before filling a pot with water.

The thought of telling Jackie crossed my mind but there was a 50-50 chance she might not believe me and I didn't want to involve her yet.

"If you're gonna stay and stare creepily at me then come help me" Jackie screeched causing me to smirk.

"Nope" I said popping the 'p' before heading to my room.

***

Dad didn't come home for dinner thankfully giving me time to talk to mom.

I knocked on her door and after hearing a reply, I came in.

Mom was in her nightie reading on the bed, the same spot where dad had jacked off to illegal p**n.

"Mom, I need to talk to you" I said causing her to drop the book.

"What is it?" She asked causing me to move away from the door.

I didn't want my siblings eavesdropping even though they were both downstairs doing the dishes.

"Mom I need you to listen to what I'm about to tell you" I said lowly causing mom to nod.

Taking a deep breath, I relayed this afternoon's event to her.

She was quiet at first before I felt a sharp stinging on my cheek.

"You're disgusting to think of your father that way. A man who works his butt off for you and here you are saying disgusting things about him" mom screamed making me wince.

Mom didn't believe me.

"Mom, I swear I'm saying the truth" I pleaded causing her to move away from me.

"Get out of here now and you're grounded till further notice. You're going to apologize to your father tomorrow but I want you out of my room now"

I recognized the look on her face which made my heart tighten.

It was the same look of disgust I had on my face this afternoon when I caught dad.

Making my way out of her room, I encountered both Jackie and Jason who both seemed to have heard everything from the looks on their faces.

Dejected, I head over to my room where I ended up crying myself to sleep.

Happy birthday, Joselyn.

***