Chapter Six: Restless Nights

With every knock on my bedroom door I cringed, and tears would always slide down my cheek. Some, of which, went unnoticed. Daniel and CB had been sleeping in my room for the past 3 days. We were usually unaware of where, in the house, our parents were. It didn’t really matter, because you can’t escape them. Sometimes it’d feel like tomorrow never came. Hours felt like years when you didn’t know what was happening in your surroundings. The 3 of us would stick together for the next 2 weeks we missed school and work.

My entire body was covered in bruises; CB was healing from deadly blows to his stomach, back, and chest. Daniel was “lucky” he wasn’t our age. His eye was healing, but we planned to protect him. In our house, the faster you healed the more damage they’d cause later.

“Is Daniel sleep?”

“Yes.” I answered a very groggy sounding Chris.

“How do you feel?”

“Like he just hit me with that bat again…” I was being honest, but my honesty got to him. I heard a pained sigh from his side of my very large room. I tried to move, but my side spazzed and my body jerked. I winced in pain, and bit my bottom lip.

“I’m so-“

“No. You can’t stop them. You’ve been trying for the past 18 years, relax. No one’s blaming you.”

“But me.” He whispered.

“And I don’t even know why you’re a wonderful big brother.”

“I wish they didn’t let them take you from the adoption agency. They could’ve done so much better. You could’ve-“

“Chris please. I’m here with you, and my little brother. I’m a part of this messed up family and I’m not going anywhere. Just face the music you love oh so much and suck it up.”

“…Alright, for you I will.”

“Darn skippidy-dooo-da.” Daniel chuckled softly out of his sleep, and we both looked at him.

“Is he really sleep?” CB asked. I nodded with a smile. “Are you going to sleep?” I shook my head. “Well I guess you and I are ready for sleepless nights.”

“I guess so.” I sighed.

“…You know…when you first came into our family, I was actually happy. I just didn’t know they’d do this.”

“Were they already?”

“No…well…not as bad. After my Dad left his business things went down hill, then he went back, and things went farther and farther down hill. It was a little scary.”

“Why?”

“Because I actually watched my father die within himself…if you follow.”

“I do.” I nodded. “I really do.”

Flashback…

“Mom…why’s God taking you away from me?” I asked looking into my Mother’s eyes.

“Because I’ve done all I can do, and my angel’s gonna be fine without me.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do too.” She smiled. “I know more than you give me credit for baby.”

“But I’m scared.”

“There’s nothing to be scared about.”

“You really don’t know that.”

“There you go again not giving me the credit.” She chuckled, then coughed really hard. I saw some blood on her lips and my heart fell. “I love you Veronica Marie Valentino, and I know you’re going to find a wonderful man, and have beautiful children, and have the best career. I know it sounds cliché, but you’re going to do things. I see it in your eyes.”

“….I love you Mom…”

“I love you too…”

Flashback End…

“Vee?” CB called, and I looked over at him in the darkness. “You were thinking about her weren’t you?”

“Yes.” I admitted. “I miss my Mother so much.”

“Even though I didn’t know her, I miss her too. She seemed perfect.”

“She was.”

“And they say nobody’s perfect.”

“When it comes to her Chris, I beg to differ.”

“I’m sure I’d agree.” I knew he was smiling. A yawn left both of us at once, and memories flooded our minds. He was itching to bring Justin up, I could tell even in the dark room. “Can I?” He blurted out and I laughed.

“Sure.”

“Do you like that kid?”

“Like is too weak…”

“You love him???”

“I think so.”

“You think so?”

“Okay fine, I love him.” I smiled. “He has more to him than I could’ve ever imagined.”

“You know what…don’t let his sudden change get to you.”

“Too late.”

“Veronica…you know what I mean.”

“I do Chris, but you also know how much of a bad ass I am. Bad asses keep their asses clean and hearts whole.”

“Sure they do.” He laughed. “I’ll put that lil white ni-“

“Aye!!!!!!!!!!” I laughed. “That’s possibly my future.”

“So do you think your future is worried about your MIA-ed-ness?” He laughed at his new word.

“I think so…and maybe his nights are just as restless as mine.”