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DON’T DO ANYTHING STUPID

Lizzie

APRIL 5, 2000

T HE SOUND OF A CAR REVVING STARTLED ME AWAKE LATE THAT NIGHT, FOLLOWED BY a second car screeching to a stop.

Confused, I remained motionless in my bed, listening in the darkness to the sound of two people screaming outside the house.

I knew from past experience that the screaming was coming from my sister and her boyfriend.

This was nothing new to me.

Throughout their relationship, Caoimhe and Mark had always argued, but since January, when Dad allowed Mark back in the house, their fights had become more frequent and vicious than ever.

Moments later, the front door slammed, and the screaming grew louder, following by heavy footsteps on the stairs.

“Let’s just go on the holiday and we can talk about it when we get back,” I heard Mark say.

“Are you completely mental?” That was Caoimhe. “I’m not going anywhere with you, you fucking pedophile!”

“Don’t call me that.”

“You raped your stepbrother,” Caoimhe screamed at the top of her lungs. “You’re an adult. Gibsie’s a child. You defiled his body. I saw you with my own eyes. That’s called being a pedophile!”

The sound of a nearby door slamming filled the air, followed by fists pounding against wood. “Open the fucking door, Caoimhe!”

“Go to hell!”

“Don’t do anything stupid.” The pounding grew louder and louder. “I’m warning you!”

“Get out of my fucking house,” Caoimhe screamed. “I’m calling the Gards right now, and when they get their hands on you, you’ll never see the light of day again, you sick, twisted bastard!”

A loud crashing ricocheted through the air, followed by my sister screaming, “What the hell are you—no, stop! Give that back. No, Mark, don’t—ahhh! Get your hands off me!”

“No, you’re not going anywhere until we talk about this!”

“There’s nothing to talk about because I see you, Mark. I finally see what you are. You’re a monster in disguise!”

“…I finally see what you are…”

“…You’re a monster in disguise…”

“…You’re a monster…”

Eyes widening in horror, I gripped my duvet and pulled it over my head.

Monster.

He was a monster.

The monster was real.

Mark was the monster.