After the small fight, Lisa could no longer continue preparing her cereal. Anger flooded her so intensely that she smashed the bowl in her hands. She couldn't swallow what had just happened. For someone who had always cared deeply about me, my well-being, and my health, she felt the way I treated her was deeply unfair.
What fueled her anger even more was the fact that, no matter how much she burned inside, she couldn't fight back. Not only because of my condition, but because my physical strength far outweighed hers. She knew that in my current state, confronting me would only end badly. That's why she did nothing when I finally let her go.
There had been times before when we exchanged blows, and every time, things ended unfavorably for her. But this time, something in her broke; my words kept echoing in her mind, stabbing deeper than any physical wound. Her feelings were crushed.
After cleaning up the shattered pieces of the bowl, she went straight to the bathroom. She turned on the cold water and let it pour over her. Sitting down beneath the running stream, she hugged her knees tightly, burying her face between them as she sobbed silently.
In that moment, Lisa questioned everything, her efforts, her sacrifices, her place in my life. Were all her efforts worth it? Was this treatment what she truly deserved? Most painfully, she began to ask herself, Did I ever want her to stay in the first place?
After nearly an hour in the shower, she dressed in her pajamas, crawled into bed, and turned on one of her favorite movies. Eventually, exhaustion pulled her into sleep.
Two hours later, her phone rang.
(Sleepy) "Yeah, what's up?"
(Surprised) "You're still sleeping at this hour? It's 1 p.m., Lisa! You're wasting your day. Are you okay?"
(Bored) "Anne, I don't have your time. You just interrupted my beauty sleep for this nonsense? Are you insane? Honestly, I wish I could punch you right now. If you've got nothing better to say, I'm hanging up."
(Concerned) "What's with the attitude? Did something happen? You sound off."
(Dryly) "Nothing new. Same old story."
(Surprised) "What! When will you two learn to grow up? To respect each other and stop fighting?"
(Irritated) "No offense, but if you ask me, your head is empty. You've got no brains, that's why you're always clueless."
(Annoyed) "Lisa, respect me and yourself."
(Sarcastic, biting tone) "Hahaha! Did I hit the right nerve? Let me tell you something, dummy: respect is earned, not demanded. Are you so blind that you can't see the damage you've been causing all along?"
(Frustrated and confused) "You said you're being straight, but I'm even more confused now. Do you realize I'm older than you? What's with the disrespect? What damage are you even talking about? Is checking on Tasha and keeping me updated such a burden? She's not a child. And I've never told you two to fight, so what's wrong with you?"
(Anger rising) "Unfortunately, you don't act like someone older than us! You've been the catalyst of all the fights between Tasha and me. I've been silent for too long, hoping you'd notice and change, but you're too blind. Honestly, I should applaud you for causing trouble while pretending to be innocent.
Your so-called guidance is destroying us. Between Tasha and me, one of us might end up in jail, or worse, six feet under. How old are you really? Because you play with people's lives like it's a game!"
By now, Lisa was pacing back and forth in her room, her voice trembling with fury. The anger in her chest was so intense that sitting still was impossible.
(Feeling insulted and angry) "Lisa!!—"
(Interrupting sharply) "Shut up! I'm still talking! If you don't have the right answer, zip it! You may be the eldest, but everything you do says otherwise. You're selfish and inconsiderate! You always want to control other people's lives, force your way on everyone!
I have so much to say, but out of the little respect I still have for you, I'm holding back right now!"
(Softly, embarrassed, realizing her mistakes) "Can you please calm down and let's reason together? Besides… you can't blame me for your fights."
(Tasha's Point of View)
On the other side of the house, I had just woken up, and on my dressing table sat my antidepressant and a glass of water, neatly prepared. Lisa had brought them while I was still asleep. She's the one who keeps my medication since the doctor warned that I shouldn't have unsupervised access to medicine or toxic substances.
I took my pill, drank the water, and decided to prepare something to eat. But as soon as I stepped out of my room, I heard Lisa shouting at the top of her voice. The intensity drew me closer to her door. I couldn't help but listen, and because her phone was on loudspeaker, I could even hear Anne's voice from the other side of the call.
(Back to Lisa and Anne's conversation)
(Lisa, trembling with anger) "Calm down? You're telling me to calm down after Tasha almost broke my neck? She told me straight to my face to leave her house, after all, it's you who asked me to stay! Do you know how it feels to try your best for someone, only for everything to backfire? Tell me, Anne, were all my efforts for nothing?
Since you're the one who asked me to stay, when exactly am I leaving? Because honestly, I can't take it anymore. You don't know how to handle sensitive situations. Your approach just makes things worse. You call me stubborn and say Tasha has anger issues, but have you ever stopped to consider your weaknesses?"
(Anne remained silent.)
(Fuming) "Answer me! Have you ever thought about how your words and methods hurt people? You think every problem needs a push or a fight, what is wrong with you?"
(Ashamed and hesitant) "I… I didn't realize I was the cause. Is it really that bad?"
(Dry laugh) "Hahaha. I don't even blame you, your head's full of water. Let me stop before I lose all respect for you. Listen to me carefully: your stupidity is going to destroy us all.
If something like this happens again, I won't hold back. Even though I'm no match for Tasha, I'll fight back, and you won't like what happens. So here's my advice: if you can't handle issues like an adult, find someone who can.
You need to come back here and fix this mess. Staying away isn't helping anyone. I don't care how you do it, but drop everything and come home. Otherwise, I'm leaving Tasha on her own, and you'll never hear from me again. Don't call me unless it's from the airport asking me to pick you up."
Listening to that heated argument, everything suddenly made sense. Lisa hadn't been meddling just to please Anne. She genuinely cared. Her anger came from concern, her shouting from worry.
For the first time, I realized how wrong I'd been. I had pushed her too far, again. And this time, I'd gone too far to fix it easily.
Meanwhile, after the phone call, Lisa couldn't stand being home any longer. The walls felt too heavy with everything unsaid. She got dressed, stepped out for some air, and met a friend for lunch.
She wasn't ready to face me, not yet.
CHAPTER FOUR LOADING…