Forgive us

Macey, Johan and Asher were sitting awkwardly at the table. They had just ordered food and drinks and no one had said anything. Asher was waiting to see if Macey wanted to say something. Johan was just there for support and Macey had nothing to say, she only agreed because Asher said something about her mother's will.

Asher cleared his throat realising he would have to start the conversation. "Umm, you looked happy on the beach" Asher stated trying to get the carefree girl back. "Asher, why did you want me to see you today?" Macey asked wanting to get this over with. She didn't want to pretend that everything was fine with Asher because it wasn't. While he hadn't been abusive he still neglected his sister and didn't stop the verbal abuse which happened almost daily in front of him. He also didn't want to see the signs of physical abuse.

"Macey, I'm sorry. I let you down and I let Mum down. I pretended everything was fine in that house but it wasn't. When you had bruises and things, Dad always had excuses for you fighting at school" Asher stated causing Macey to scoff. The school was her sanctuary away from home. She had no friends and kept to herself but she wasn't harmed there at all.

Johan looked at Macey after she scoffed and saw she was getting pissed with his excuses. "Macey, I didn't want to see what was happening and I'm sorry I didn't get you out of there. I should have stopped them when they were degrading you. I'm glad you left when you did though" Asher added. Johan now couldn't help himself and scoffed at Asher's words. Was this guy serious? He was glad his sister ran away as a kid. "Why? So you didn't feel guilty?" Johan bit out.

Asher lowered his head. "I meant, I'm glad she was safe" Asher replied. "Safe? I lived on the streets for a while. No one wanted to give me a place to live because I was a kid. But you are right, I was safer on the street than with my supposed family. God Asher, I was 7 and you all turned your back on me. You promised me and you broke that promise and forgot about me. You made me believe it was better for me to be forgotten. I was 10 when you stopped bringing me food and cleaning up the damage that was done. After that, it got worse but I was on my own. I cried myself to sleep every fucken night until I realised at 14 that none of it was my fault" Macey spat with venom.

"You know what made me realise it wasn't my fault? The letters from mum. I got my first period and opened the letter from her. There she told me I was growing up. There she told me how proud of me she was and that our house was toxic. I had to fucken steal pads because I couldn't ask any one of you for help. My dead mother was there for me more than my living family. I wanted to join her and tried several times. Each time the beatings were worse but I didn't care. I wanted it all to end" Macey sobbed out.

Asher was shocked, he hadn't realised how bad it had gotten. He didn't know his sister wished she was dead because of what was happening in that house. "I tried leaving before that and I was beaten to within an inch of my life by your family. And then Diesel's girlfriend came and cleaned me up and walked away" Macey continued. Johan was shocked to hear the extent of what Macey went through. He knew it was bad but he couldn't imagine a kid living like that.

Asher had tears streaming down his face, how could he have missed it all? Was he in denial that much? How could he be so blind to what was actually happening in that house? Yes, he had his own life and he was mainly out every night. He hardly saw Macey as she got older, but he assumed that was because she was safe in her room. "Macey, I swear I didn't know it was that bad" Asher sobbed out. Macey shook her head before the waiter placed the food on the table.

Asher cleared his throat shaking his head. He knew Macey had every right to hate him as it was his fault. "Mum knew," Asher said finally. "What?" Macey asked not knowing what Asher meant. "Mum knew what was going to happen. The letters Diesel told us about, I read mine. Mum told me all about our father and what he had done to her, what he would do to you if I didn't get you out. She begged me to get you safe and I should of. I would of, but Dad hid the letters. I should have got you out anyway and I will be forever sorry for not taking you away from that" Asher told his sister.

It was silent then, Macey had nothing to say, she was playing with her salad not really feeling like eating. Johan was watching Macey to see how she was holding up. He was going to take her out of here if he thought she was going to lose it. Asher was looking at his food not sure what else to say.

"I don't know if I can ever forgive you, Asher. I don't understand how you could think that nothing was wrong in that house. I don't know if I ever want a relationship with you. You hurt me just as much as the others when you weren't there for me" Macey finally spoke up.

Asher looked at his sister who was still looking at her food. "I know Macey and I'm not asking you to forgive me. Fuck I don't forgive myself for what I did. I just want you to finally be happy. You deserve it, Macey. I want to finally be the person to keep you safe. I failed once and I don't want to fail you again. I once protected you and I should of kept doing that" Asher replied. "Tyler is being investigated but I don't trust him not to show up again. I won't allow him to hurt you any more than he already has, any more than all of us have" Asher added.

Macey nodded her head. She didn't trust Tyler either but she wouldn't be staying around for him to come after her again. She knew that at the end of the year, she would be looking at transferring and changing universities so no one knew where she was. She no longer felt safe here. "I'm not sticking around" Macey replied.