Violets Mistake

Violets Mistake 

I watched as my dad placed the last box into the car. My sisters favorite childhood toy on top. I stared at the bear and shifted uncomfortably as if it was staring right back at me.

I waited until a tear ran down my face to walk away. I sighed and stared at the sold sign under our favorite tree. I remember climbing that and getting stuck all the time. I stayed in the moment for so long and never wanted to leave. My silence was broken by the police lights flashing ahead. Suddenly I was back to that night. The scream the noise the mess. I was terrified. 

"Rose, hurry up and grab jack."

I turned around and stared at my father. His arms carried my bunny cage and I smiled and turned to the house. I walked to the backyard and opened the gate jack ran up and I put his leash on him without using the collar so he can't escape. I looked one last time at the backyard. The swing set, our trampoline. The now empty shed. 

"Rose you coming?" 

I turned and grabbed the leash and left, leaving the gate open and put the hose up on it. I walked around to the front of the house and got pulled as jack ran and jumped into the car. I grabbed my purse and put jack in the back seat of the car now full of boxes. I turned on my ear buds and connected them to my phone as I prepared myself for the long car ride away from what I know as home.

" jack sit down and go to sleep." 

My father looked at me as the red light shined onto his face. He patted me on the back and said nothing. A honk from behind us startled him as the light turned green. I let my eyes shut as the music blared in my ears my phone being blown up by my three friends who still talk to me after that night. I was still.

I was walking around my house. It was dark. The fridge was calling me. A loud noise came from violets room but I didn't care. She came downstairs and stared at me.

" what are you doing up?"

" I got hungry and remembered my leftovers how about you?" 

" nothing I can't sleep. Wanna share?" 

I looked over at the microwave that now read 25 seconds and looked at her.

"Sure I don't care."

she seemed odd but she is a 13 year old girl of course she is. The microwave went off and I grabbed the sandwich. I cut it down the middle evenly, and handed her a piece. We ate in silence. She stared at me for a while as I scrolled on down tiktok. 

" did mom ever give you your phone back?" I asked

" nope but I have my computer still. I hate mom she's so stupid."

I threw my trash away and looked at her outfit.

" very athletic, going for a run?" I laughed

"Something like that. You going to sleep?"

" yea I'm exhausted, ill be out in no time." I said as she smiled. 

" good night vi I love you." 

" yea you too." 

I walked back upstairs to my room and passed hers. A bag of clothes on her bed. I shrugged it off and went to lay down. I sat and watched tv for awhile as I drifted off. I jumped awake and I went to check the time. My phone where did I leave it. I rubbed my arms around my bed under the warmth of the blanket as I felt for it. Nothing. I sat in silence as a chill went down my back. A terrible feeling like a jump scare then my mother.

A terrible shriek.

I jumped awake and looked at my dad.

" I have a coupon for two chicken sandwiches and two fries for-"

My music got louder after the ad went off and my watch vibrated. I looked at my phone as a notification popped up on the lock screen. Which was now a picture of my mother and I from when I was younger. I sat up and paused my music as my dad handed me my favorite chicken sandwich. The one I microwaved on that night.

"Nightmares again?"

"Yea" 

I ate the sandwich and looked at the window until we pulled up to our new house. I stared at the new houses and smiled.

"A new chance, A new life. Just me and you rose." 

 I smiled and reached for jacks leash. I attached it to his collar forgetting my past worries of him getting out of it and running away. I looked up at The house. I grabbed the keys from my dad and ran up to the house this time pulling jack behind me. My dad went and opened the trunk and put my bunny cage on the sidewalk. He shut the trunk and picked the cage up while he walked up to the house that was now ours. 

I took jacks leash off as we went to find our new bedroom. I found it, hug with a nice closet. I got excited and sat on the floor next to jack. The door opened and he started to sniff around. 

"Here's your bunny, you seem happier."

" its a fresh start, no one has to know. I am now Claire an only child who lives with their wonderful dad. " 

I said and smiled I went and looked out my bedroom window and saw a giant group of girls and boys playing outside.

" if that is what you want to do. The truck will be here at 5 so you can go make friends or help unload the car." 

I jumped up and hugged him, excitingly saying thank you. I grabbed jacks leash who was now harassing my bunny and I planned to walk around the block and find new potential friends. I put my headphones in and hit play on my phone as I put my phone into my pocket. Jack confused on where he is stayed close near me. 

I didn't plan on turning any corners yet so I walked where I knew I could get back. I walked past the giant group of kids playing what seemed to be tag as some of them slowed down as they watched me pass but no one really talked to me. I headed back home and started unpacking as soon as the truck got here. 

My empty room now full of boxes as the doorbell rang. I wondered who it could be. I set my glass on top of my mini fridge that used to hold coffee drinks. That sat next to my treadmill to the right of my bookshelf that holds my bunny cage. 

"Rose there's someone to see you." 

I ran out excitedly and went to the front door and saw this girl. Staring at me 

" Hey I'm claire I'm your new neighbor and I saw you walking your dog and wondered if you wanted to come hang out. Were all nice and don't bite."

She said with a laugh. I looked at my dad who looked at me and I smiled.

"Sure."

I walked out and followed Claire and listened as she told me who lives where. I thought about how I could Become her best friend. As we made it to this field she introduced me to everyone. 

" so this little field is where we all hang out. This is Lola, she is shy this here is Charlie she is crazy, this is grace she is a tom boy, this is Ella she is on her phone slot and that's the girls. Then you Have the boys, Logan Carl and Jack." 

They all seemed nice and no one knew of the accident. I smiled and introduced myself.

" Hey I'm Rose I just moved her. Uh I'm an only child and I live here with my dad."

" awe man divorce?" 

One of the boys said. The one by the name of jack. 

" oh no my mother passed away a year ago."

"Good job jack." Logan said as he punched him

The boys all then started to argue. I stood awkwardly as everything went down. 

Every thing was awkward like this for a few months until Claire and I became best friends. Jack along in the tiny group. School was starting up again and I was the new kid. I knew the small group of kids from our neighborhood but not many others. The first day of high school is in fourteen days. Violet would of been a year above me and she promised she would help me but she is still back home. So Jack and Claire are all I got.

"Rosie I'm heading to work, make sure you do your chores before Jack and Claire head over."

" okay I will, do you know where the granola bars are?" 

" the same place they have been for 3 months now. Which shows to me you don't eat breakfast, along with your morning medicine. "

I laughed as he handed me my favorite granola bars I opened it and took a bite as I grabbed a dirty plate from the night before and placed it in the dishwasher. I asked Alexa to play the radio station that my mom loved so much. I finished and went to go watch tv before my friends got here. 

I felt my eyes close and I was back there. Alone looking at my mom. I turned around and dialed 911 I saw my sister grabbing that bag and I ran out of the house and waited for the police to arrive. Crying on the ground the police rushed past me into the house.

My dad pulled up in his car and grabbed me. They went in there and took my mom straight to the ambulance, I ran up to the stretcher and told her I love her. My sister no where to be found. They ran the doorbell?

I jumped awake and heard the doorbell ringing. I ran to the door and opened it. There standing was Jack and Claire.

" sorry I fell asleep watching Netflix."

They both laughed and went straight to my room. I followed them while listening to their jokes and gossip. I shut my door and looked at jack holding my bunny and Claire sitting on my bed. 

"So what do I need to know about this high school of yours?"

"Ours now" 

"Jack and I will help you find your way."

"Yea and your locker should be near ours because its alphabetical."

"Okay and my school back home had dances do they do that here?"

"Yea there's homecoming next month, and everyone asks out their crush." 

Claire nudged jack and gave me the look knowing he was my crush. I looked at her bag as she shook her head and pulled out her year book from last year. She went through the whole thing showing me who is who and who not to talk to. 

"I think I can remember that."

I said while laughing. The door opened and I jumped, I knew it was my dad. I went to meet him in the kitchen like everyday as Jack put my bunny back into my cage. There he was my dad, but this time different. I looked at him as he asked my friends and I what pizza we wanted as if he was a stranger.

"The usual Mr. Jones" 

My friends replied in unison. I listened as they both yelled jinx and headed back into my room. 

"Ill be there in a second guys"

I paused waiting for them to shut the door.

" you seem different."

"I have some news, good and bad."

"Bad first of course"

" okay well this weekend the worker who helps violet says she wants us to visit her in the asylum, and I said we could do it this weekend and I thought maybe you could also see your old frie"

I couldn't even think straight. Did her sign me up to see her. I couldn't breathe. I don't want to see her. I don't know her I'm an only child. My new life. My secret. 

Darkness.

I woke up on the couch Jack worrying going back and forth in front of me while Claire sat next to me with my dad. I sat up.

"Did I?" 

" are you okay wha happened,"

I looked at my dad who sat in his chair and looked at my friends.

"What did he tell you?" 

They looked at each other with curiosity and both replied 

"Nothing said you didn't feel 100%"

" oh okay, can we reschedule our pizza night to tomorrow?"

"Yeah of course"

Jack replied as they started to leave. I waited till the door shut and I put my hands on my eyes and cried.

" I don't want to see her."

"I'm guessing on your secretary they don't know."

" NO dad they will judge me they won't understand I'm not like that." 

" you can't know that. Everything gets out eventually. Its been two and a half years Rosie, you can't hide from her forever."

I stared at him in disgust, and turned around. 

" I can try."

We looked at each other knowing we were both going. He hadn't yelled at me since that night. I knew my streak wouldn't last forever.

"Rosie your going to go and that's the end of it. She is your sister wether you like it or not. Now go pack Your weekend bag were leaving Friday morning."

I stood up crying and ran to my room slamming the door for the first time. Jack barked outside and was let in he scratched my door until I let him in. I stayed silent for the next two day. I told my friends I was sick and listened to moms radio. Jack and I played until the knock at my door. My dad came in and sat next to me.

"Listen I'm sorry about our fight. I didn't mean any harm. You can stay here if you want."

" no I was wrong I will go"

We hugged it out and left to go back to our nightmare. The long 

car was spent singing and dancing. We were just trying to ignore what was about to happen. We pulled up to the asylum and stared. we opened our doors in silence and sighed.

" now or never" 

I heard my dads voice break but we both knew it was too late to turn back now. We waited in a room. She looked horrible. I felt bad as they hand cuffed her to the pole behind her like a dog. 

"Hey Rosie Posie"

"hey violet." 

I watched as the workers left the room and looked at the sign that read soundproof. I scooted away from her by an inch and saw her offended face. 

"Its been almost three years dad can I get some alone time with my favorite sis."

I looked worriedly at my dad as he got up from his chair. 

" five minutes then.

He said as the door shut behind him. I looked at her with fear and leaned back.

" I knew you would come Rose. I know you still love me."

" I was forced, I never wanted to see you face again, your crazy and sick. I feel bad you wasted your life."

She jolted shaking the bar behind her as I jumped a little in my seat.

" oh Rosie you antagonize. But how do you know your not crazy, how do you know its not your fault. Your just like me Rosie. Your born to kill."

"No no shut up SHUT UP. I'm not like you ill never be like you."

"Oh yeah look at yourself your crazy, put on meds."

"Because of you"

"Having nightmares I assume"

I felt my heart beat faster and faster.

"I'm not like you"

I whispered.

" you are though"

I felt the words run faster and faster through my mind as she laughed like an insane witch. I was falling and I hit the ground and then everything went black. I could hear her screaming 

"Your just like me" 

While I was being pulled out of the room I could hear it still. I woke up in my bed. He carried me in here. I thought. I walked past my bunny and jack on the ground and opened my door. There they were my dad Jack and Claire.

" Its time you tell them claire. You can't hide secrets forever." 

" no I don't want to. I ca-"

I was interrupted by the doorbell, I looked over and saw a woman. Dressed fancy on a Saturday night.

"You never let me tell you the good news. I met a woman and wanted to tell you I'm going out."

I watched him stand up and I noticed his fancy attire and had this horrible feeling. He was moving on. Moms gone and now he's leaving me too. I felt this hatred feeling in my gut and looked back at Jack and Claire who were now super confused on what was going on. 

I turned and watched him leave as I remembered what Violet was saying. I looked at Jack and Claire who were standing there in front of the television. I Looked out the window and watched him leave. I turned to Claire and Jack as they cleared their throat. Out of anger I could say he did it to her and they would have no idea.

"What was that about?"

" Violet ruined everything."

"Violet is?"

I looked at them and sat down

"Violet is my sister, it was her mistake."