Chapter 27

Winter POV

We pull up into the driveway and I shudder looking at the house. Had it always looked this intimidating and

imposing or was my imagination going into overdrive? I’m reluctant to get out of the car and I watch as Damien gets

out, part of me wanting to cower against the seat and stay in the car. I know he’s told me that father is gone forever

but a small part of me thinks he could be lying, that this could be a trap and that’s what keeps me from getting out.

My brother looks exasperated but I don’t care.

“Winter” he says softly, knocking on my window “it’s safe to come out, I promise he’s not here.”

I just look at him and then slowly, quietly, get out, closing the car door behind me. To my surprise Damien takes hold of my hand and gives it a squeeze, I guess his way of trying to reassure me as we walk up the driveway and to the front door together.

Damien reaches out and opens the door, turning the light on and going inside, while I clutch his hand with a death grip. The lounge room is completely littered with beer bottles and there’s father’s odor still drifting in the air. I gag, putting a hand over my mouth and taking deep breaths. I’m aware I’m still in a hospital gown but I’m too scared

to go upstairs by myself.

“Are you hungry?” Damien asks and I shake my head, tugging at my hospital gown and looking at him with wide

eyes in an effort to get him to understand what I want.

“You want to get changed” he says and I nod.

“Go on then” he urges and I shake my head, pulling on his hand while he stares at me confused.

gently and I nod, staring down at the ground. He uses a finger to lift

pull him behind me as I try, very awkwardly to

impatient though and scoops me up, carrying me

bed.

the drawers and throws a shirt and pants at me, which I catch but I continue to

underwear, vehemently aware that I’m not wearing any

bright red.

top drawer. He acts as though is hand

fight the urge to laugh. He pointedly looks

I’m about to ask my brother for help getting dressed. I don’t care how long it takes, I’ll do it

wait in the hallway” he says then frowns. “Knock on the wall or something

apologetically and I wait impatiently until

the time I was done.

Loudly

in. “Anything

and then stop him before he can pick me up. I mime a

he gets

where

before swiftly picking me up and

I flinch, looking at him in horror. “You need to rest” he

he points out

he suggests looking a little lost. This is all

anyone

mime drinking and he brings me water before sitting next to me,

his lap.

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