SEVEN

ELOISE

I couldn't speak. I doubt anyone could. Clay was puffing. His face was red. You could tell those words had been hidden in him for a very long time. There was a twinge of guilt on his demeanor as soon as he finished his statement even if that guilt was not enough for him to retract his statement. It wasn't like he was wrong. It made sense then. Clay hated me for valid reasons. I told his childhood and parents from him. Anybody who had to go through that deserved to be angry.

Mrs. Carter looked at me. Her lips were trembling and the story her eyes told did the final crack on the camel's back. It was one of fear. I had seen it many times and I knew what followed. Before the words could even come from her, I crumbled. The tears I had been reining in came pouring in rounds.

Mr. Carter walked up to his son Clay and grabbed him by the hand. He was rough with it too. "You are going apologize to your sister now!" Through the misty tears that half blinded me, I could see Clay's sneer