Original Story - 'In the Closet'

(Own photo)

That’s my hiding place, in the closet. Okay, okay, I know it’s not the cleverest hiding place. I mean, most times, it’s the first place people look when they’re looking for something. Mum has looked in there, but she’s never found me. Ever.

No, only that closet. It has big coats hanging there, see? I hide behind them, that’s why she’s never found me. I don’t know why she’s never thought to move the coats aside. She’s even lied about it. Uncle Fred told her once to move the coats and she told him she had even though she hadn’t.

No, he’s not our real uncle, we just call him that. It makes Mum happy. We’ve always called her friends ‘uncle’, the ones who end up staying. I can’t remember how many. Yeah, well maybe I don’t want to remember.

So what if I am? Wouldn’t you be angry if you were being asked silly questions all the time? No, I don’t want any water, I’m fine.

Now I think about it, yeah, I guess Uncle Fred has been with us the longest… He was there before my seventh birthday, so he’s been living at home almost six years, I think. He’s been the nicest of Mum’s friends. He’s gone now… I don’t know why.

I really wanted him to like me. I don’t know, I just wanted him to. I tried so hard to be nice, but it was Emma he liked, not me.

Well, that’s because everyone likes my baby sister, she’s such a sweety. It’s hard not to like her. When you meet her, you’ll see. Yeah, I love her very much.

Do you know if she’s ok? I’m so worried, but no one will tell me anything. You promise? You’ll find out and tell me after we talk? Okay…

Why do I hide? To get away from Mum when she gets angry. She’s always angry with me, no matter what I do. You won’t tell her that’s my hiding place, will you? Promise?

Emma is Mum’s favourite. But I know something Mum doesn’t.

No, no, I’m not telling, it’s a secret. Emma told me, so it’s an extra special secret. I haven’t told anyone.

Yes, it is, it’s so hard keeping such a wonderful secret. But I don’t have anyone to tell. No, Emma is the only one I trust.

But I don’t know you, how do I know I can trust you? Oh. We exchange secrets? Um… okay. You tell first.

*Gasp* Was it an expensive watch? No one ever found out? What did your dad do? He never bought a fancy one again?

Yeah, that is a good secret. You never told anyone? Ever? Okay, I’ll tell you mine. Come closer so I can whisper it.

Emma told me she loves me best. Even more than Mum. She also said she doesn’t like Uncle Fred… but she wouldn’t say why even when I kept asking her.

I don’t remember Mum ever being angry with Emma, only me. That’s why I don’t understand why she was shouting at her. I told her to stop. She told me to shut up.

Emma was crying. She said Mum didn’t care, that she only cared about Uncle Fred. Then Mum… Mum slapped her. She’s never slapped her before. She called her a wicked girl. Said it was her fault Uncle Fred left. Then she pushed her.

I don’t remember… I was scared… angry. I think I shouted at Mum… I think. Yeah, I remember that, I remember banging Mum’s head on the floor. Banging it and banging it. All I could see was Emma lying at the bottom of the stairs. She wasn’t moving.

She is ok, isn’t she, doctor? You said you’d find out after we talk. We’ve finished now. The police came and the ambulance, I was brought here… I’ve told you everything, I promise. I want to see her. No, I don’t care about Mum, only Emma. Please, doctor, you promised. Please…