Neither Jen nor Kate had spoken for at least an hour,
riding with only the sound of the engine and the rushing of wind on the windows to break the silence.
“What about my bike?” asked Jen,
wide-eyed, kicking her feet together, bored.
“I sold it,” replied Kate,
just as cold as she was a few hours ago.
“So… we’re going to my old house?” Jen asked, feeling her newfound sensitivity coursing through her body.
“Yes. Go to sleep,” Kate commanded.
Jen had a hard time resisting.
So much so that she laid down her head and rested her eyes.
Unable, and unwilling, to do anything that would make Kate unhappy.
She had put her through enough.
Jen was slowly drifting in and out, seeing worn out,
small town buildings,
and large city highways,
but she paid no mind to them,
she just cared about sleeping as Kate wanted her to.
Jen jumped as she heard the driver’s side door slam.
She looked up through the windshield and saw something extremely familiar.
The siding of her childhood home.
After she had the chance to rub her eyes, she saw her aunt handing the keys to Kate.
She heard her aunt say something about the “little…” something.
After Kate and Jen’s aunt had a discussion, Jen saw her aunt step off the front patio, and she watched as she left in her grey BMW.
Jen looked up to the patio again and saw Kate walking into the house, almost completely disregarding her.
Jen quickly hopped out of the front seat of the car,
crossed the yard,
and worked her way up the steps to the front door.
Stepping into the house was like taking a step into the past itself.
The house had not changed very much at all since she had left when she turned 18.
She heard a drawer sliding down the hall, so she went into the room to investigate.
She saw her parents’ Master Bedroom being inhabited by Kate,
she couldn’t object,
although she had several strong feelings against this.
Kate said, “Just wait there. Remember those conditions I told you about…?”
Jen nodded, complacently.
Well, I’ll tell you about them as soon as I’m done unpacking.
Sit on the bed and wait,” Kate commanded.
Jen complied and sat on the bed,
feeling minuscule, being towered over by someone who had once been emotionally neglected by herself…