Toxic Lies

My escape from that hell had been well planned. When I realized that my parents were never going to believe a thing I said again, I had started working on my exit strategy. Everything had been rehearsed in my head over and over again. After I told Mr. Harland about my acceptance to Harvard, the reality had hit me. This was really happening.

When I got home that night, I was surprised to find that the family had just sat down at the dinner table to eat. This was not overly common, as I usually got home so late that dinner was long over. It was part of my plot to stay as far away from Kylee as possible. So when my mother beckoned me to sit with the family, I cringed.

“I’m not hungry, but thank you.”

“Nonsense. You’re never home to eat with us. Sit.” My dad commanded.

Grumbling, I did as I was told. It was just the four of us tonight. My dad sat at the head of the table, with my mom and Kylee on either side of him. “Sit next to me, Sarah!” Kylee hyped while patting the seat next to her. I pretended not to hear and sat next to my mom instead. “Why won’t you sit next to me? We used to be the best of friends.” she pouted while tossing that long, blonde hair of hers over her shoulder.

“Go sit next to your sister, dear.” My mom said in that soft, yet stern voice of hers.

“Why? So she can push her food in her lap or spill her tea and say I did it? No thanks.” I retorted.

“Sarah!” My dad snapped.

“I’m. Not. Moving.” I said, narrowing my eyes at him in a challenge.

There was a bump underneath the table followed by Kylee’s wailing. “Ouch! Sarah, why did you have to kick me so hard? I know you don’t like me anymore, but you didn’t have to choose violence to take it out on me!”

“SARAH!” My dad snapped again.

I rolled my eyes. “Shes too far away from me to even reach! And even if I could, I would have hit mom first. Which I wouldn’t do because I have never laid my hands on her!” I retorted once more, raising my voice to make my point.

“Watch your tone with me young lady! And apologize to your sister!”

Abruptly, I stood up. “I’m sorry you banged your knee on the table and hurt yourself, little sis.” I mocked. “Don’t worry, dad. I’ll see myself to my room. You don’t have to yell at me and tell me to go to bed without my supper. I already ate anyways. Oh, and Kylee. I don’t just dislike you. I fucking loathe you. Happy now, Princess?”

"Watch your mouth, young lady!" Of course, I knew what was coming next. My dad was going to follow me up the stairs, yelling and screaming before ordering one of the house staff to remove my door. Too bad it was already gone from the previous day’s incident of keying Kylee’s car when I wasn’t home. He had taken my phone that I had paid for myself, too. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had seen it. So when I reached the threshold of my room, I sat on my bed, looked at my bellowing dad and asked “What are you taking away from me today, Patrick? All I’ve got left are my bed and my clothes. Will I be sleeping on the floor, now?”

If his face could turn an even deeper shade of red than it already had, I’m pretty sure it would have exploded. “You disobedient little brat! As soon as you turn eighteen YOU ARE OUT OF THIS HOUSE!”

“GOOD! I CAN’T FUCKING WAIT!”

My dad turned on one heel and left my room. As he got farther down the hall, I could hear Kylee’s pathetic little voice whining in his ear. “Oh, Daddy. Please don’t be angry. I know Sarah hasn’t been able to cope with having me for a sister, but she means well. Maybe instead of kicking her out, you can send her to a rehabilitation facility. You know, to work on her anger issues?”

That seemed to calm my dad down. “Oh, Kylee. Sweetheart. You are so young and innocent. You shouldn’t blame yourself for your sister’s behavior. I will consider the therapy.”

I could hear fabric shifting as Kylee threw her arms around him. “Oh, thank you, Daddy! I just want our family to be happy and healthy again. Like old times.”

I heard my dad start descending the stairs. As if on cue, her face poked through my entryway, devil’s grin plastered all over it. “Did you like my little performance tonight, Sarah? I made sure mom and dad waited on you for dinner so that I could get one in. Soon, you’re going to be out of this house and in the looney bin for being cray-zee!” She hummed in a singsong voice.

“Fuck off, Kylee!”

I flopped down on my bed and began to stare at the ceiling as Kylee pranced away. There wasn’t much else to do. I’d get shipped off to wherever she wanted me to be sent over my dead body.