Outcast

“Elizabeth! Get down here right now!” Yelled my Father from down stairs.
I ran down the stairs without stumbling on any and got to the bottom with a triumphant smile, then continued down the dark cream walled hall. Half way up the hall, I met my sister, Faith. Her face was red and her eyes were dark, and the bruises she has on her arms were bigger and more purple than before. She gave me her best ‘I’ll talk to you later’ look and then continued up the white carpeted stair case. The heat rose from underneath my collar, I could feel my whole face had gone red.
Cautiously I stepped into the kitchen, to find my rugged looking father half on the table, with one leg still on the ground to hold himself up. His arms were folded and he had an angry look on his stubble covered face. This frightened me, but I walked in anyway.
For years, it had been just me and my father, living on our own, in this echoic house. I never knew what happened to my mother and I thought I was best not to ask. Then he started dating my step Mum, Rachel. She’s a real pretty lady, with long; straight brown hair and fair skin. I’ve always been fond of her.
“You are to get ready for church now, okay Liz?” My father said softy.
I nodded politely and started slowly back up the stairs.
As I walked into my room, I noticed Faith sitting on my bed cradling her arms. She looked up at me, tears rolling down her pink face. Her fringe was hanging over her mossy green eyes.
“I can’t keep doing this, Liz.” She coughed. “The bruises are getting too big. I can’t keep covering them up.” She choked out under her tears.
I went and sat next to her hugging her lightly while being careful not to hurt her.
“I know Fay, but I promise this will get better. Daniels not a bad man.” I smiled.
(Of course Daniel being my Father)
She whipped away her tears gently and we both got ready for church, putting on our nicest dresses and jewellery. While Faith was in the bathroom brushing her teeth and doing her hair, I went and spoke to Rachel. She was combing her hair in the big long wooden framed mirror in Dads bedroom. When I entered the room she turned and smiled at me. She was so beautiful that day. I smiled back and sat on the wooden chest at the end of the bed. I hung my head.
“Something wrong, my dear?” She spoke so sweetly.
“I want to apologize for my father’s actions. He’s really a good man; I don’t know why he’s doing this”
“Daniels actions?” She questioned, peering at me in the mirror while still combing her hair.
“Hitting Faith” I spoke softly, hoping no one (especially Dad) would hear.
“Oh yes, I’ve been meaning to talk to him about that but just…” She paused and then sighed her words. “Just haven’t found the time”
I nodded then Dad loomed in the doorway, anger still lurking in his expression. I had a horrible feeling he had heard me.
He opened his mouth silently as if to say something, but didn’t and closed it again. Then he said,
“Time to go” Innocently.
Dad opened the door for Rachel as Faith and I piled in the back seat and clicked our seat belts in. Dad turned back over the seat to see where he was reversing and slightly glanced at me. As if to check me without drawing attention to the look. But just like normal, there was no glance at Faith.
When we were on the road it was quiet; too quiet. There was awkwardness in the air.
I looked at Faith, and then in the revision mirror too see Dads eyes. His eyes met mine but I quickly looked away hoping he hadn’t seen me. But I knew with every bone in my body that he did. The retched heat rose again, and my face grew hot. I dreaded those words that were about to come out of dads mouth.
“Elizabeth, you know you really need to learn to keep your nose out of things that don’t concern you.” Dad spoke firmly.
There were the words.
“Sorry?” I said. Though I knew exactly what he was talking about.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about, don’t play dumb with me girl!”
“DANIEL!” Rachel cut in.
I looked at Faith, she had her head hung.
“No Rachel! This need not concern you either!” He yelled.
“Faith is my daughter!” She yelled back.
I’ve never seen angry in her pretty face before but there certainly was today.
“If you hadn’t gone and done it with a BLACK man I wouldn’t care!” He emphasized black carelessly.
“If I hadn’t done it with a black man I wouldn’t be here!”
It was like a tennis match. One screamed only to have it returned. They both froze in anger.
Rachel served.
“Faith is my daughter Daniel. You should appreciate her!”
Dad returned.
“Why should I!?”
Rachel rallied.
“Because she’s a human being; she deserves respect!”
We were just going through a green light, when out of the corner of my eye I spotted a car coming towards us. It was like slow motion. I saw Faith notice it. Then I saw the driver notice in the other car; then it was Rachel. But Dad was still yelling. He didn’t realise and then- Crash!
Right into Rachel’s side. The last thing I remember hearing was Dads muffled yelling.
I woke up groggy and heavy in a white room. Wires and tubes coming out of me from everywhere. Everything was blurry.
“Oh, Liz! Your okay!” Sighed a voice in front of me. From my guess it was Dad.
He hugged me, while leaning over into the bed. His face was bruised and cut and he had more stubble than before. My guess was it was at least a few days later. I was stunned, what happened? I had so many questions to ask.
“Rachel?” I said softly. Being to only thing I managed to say.
Dad shook his head and cried. I’ve never seen a grown man cry before. It was strange.
Suddenly a figure appeared in to doorway. Then it came into the room. I could see now it was Faith. She stood in front of Dad. Her eyes were wet and she had cuts on her face. She starred into Dads eyes. Then without hesitation she reached out and hugged him tightly. Dad looked hesitant to start with, he rose his hands back as if he hadn’t been hugged by someone before. But then lower them down around her. Then they both cried, covering their cuts with tears.
I cried too, but with a sense of hope. Too know that even though Rachel was gone, it was going to be okay.