Open Secrets✔️

XV

I stared at her, soaking in what she had said. I knew it. Danny must have constructed that lie even further to convince everyone that I was the one that had killed Dad. I thought forever about how I was going to convince them that I was right. Was there even a possibility of that happening?

"Let's start from the beginning." The lady explained, "How old were you when your father died?"

"Six." I replied, "When  Danny and I were away, I started having these dreams. They were dreams, but They felt so real. They were real memories that I wasn't able to figure out until yesterday." 

"What were these dreams or memories about?"

"Well at first I was just remembering Danny and Mom telling me that Dad had died, But they wouldn't tell me how or why, just like it has always been since it happened."

"Do you know why they didn't tell you?"

"I know now. They didn't want me to know that Danny had killed Dad. All they would tell me is that it was an accident. I believe that it was an accident, but they didn't think I could handle the truth."

"Did they tell you that you couldn't handle it?"

"I heard them say it in the dream. And when I confronted Danny about it, he said the same thing."

"Ok, so, if your claiming that Danny killed your Dad, then how did he do it?"

"He never said. He told me that he was stabbed, and he kept saying sorry. But he never said that he did it."

"Then why are you so convinced that he did it to begin with?"

"Danny had a picture in his backpack. On the back it said 'I'm sorry, Dad'. Plus he kept apologizing to me, as if he was at fault."

"Yes. We have the photo." I could tell by the look on her face that this wasn't going the right way for me.

"What did my Mom say?"

"Someone is speaking with her now." It was like everything she said was a dead end. I felt like I couldn't reply or defend myself in the right way.

"She will tell you the truth. Danny is lying. He is the best lying in the town probably."

"Does that mean your done talking for now?" I nodded. 

"Ok. Chad, I know your young. And this must be very stressful for you, but when the truth comes out, the right things will be done." I nodded once more. The lady left the room again. I didn't know what the time was, but I was getting really tired. I laid down on the couch and quickly drifted off into what I thought was going to be the best sleep I had had since we left.

My vision is blurry. I didn't know why, but I was on the floor in the kitchen. I laid there as I saw Mom on her knees. Dad was laying on the floor too. Mom and Danny were crying. It was as if I was paralyzed. I couldn't move. They were talking, but I couldn't make out anything they said.

"Call the police!" I heard Danny say. I was surprised I was even able to make out that. The speech sounded so muffled.

"What would we tell them?" Mom asked. I tried so hard to hear what Danny had to say, but I just couldn't. Did it have something to do with me? Was it about him? I'll never know.

I suddenly awoke on the couch, sweating. I thought for sure that the dream was going to show me the truth. I guess not. Mom will speak the truth. I couldn't tell how how long I had been asleep. It seemed quiet. I couldn't really hear any noise outside the room.

I sat on the couch for a few minutes, waking myself up, thinking about the dream once more. I thought about everything that was said. The things that I heard, and the things that I didn't. I tried to figure out if I missed something, but I wasn't getting anywhere.

Suddenly, one of the police officers that came and got Danny and I, came through the door. Another police officer was behind him. The two of them stood there, holding their hands in front of them. They stared at me for a few moments. I wasn't sure what was happening until they said it.

"Chad Jones, You are under arrest for the murder of Robert Jones." I think my heart stopped in that moment. I felt like my stomach was in my throat. I felt like I was going to throw up. I couldn't believe that they believed Danny. There was no way mom would take his side, at least I thought.

They put me in handcuffs and read me my rights. I started to cry and was trying to convince them that I wasn't the one who killed Dad. They didn't say anything to me. They put me in a cell and all I could do is ask questions. I kept asking them what Mom and Danny had said, but they wouldn't answer me.

I don't think I need to go into much detail for the rest of the story, so I'll just make it short. They moved me to a child facility, and I stayed there for months. I was able to see Mom and Danny throughout that time, but they kept telling me that they couldn't tell me what happened until the trial. Obviously I was confused, and I was aggressive towards them, because I was so mad at the fact that they lied. The doctors and the police at the facility tried to convince me that I did it. I didn't want to fall for it.

After a few months passed, we had the trial. It was ridiculously long. Danny told his story and Mom told hers. I cried just hearing her say it. She was crying, Danny was crying. It wasn't a good story. Mom told a story that was very similar to what Danny had said. The story that I thought he was lying about. I thought the truth was going to come out and I guess it did. I stabbed Dad. I didn't remember it. I wasn't ever going to remember it.

Something made Danny think that I might find out so we ran away. I'm grateful for that moment, because I realize the monster that I am. The doctors and my family try to convince me that it was an accident, but I don't believe them. I believe that the monster is still alive inside of me, and because of that, they put me in this mental facility. I go to counseling multiple times a week, and I live with other insane people. Seems like the right ending. I look out the window every day, like I said, it's my life. Watching that baby bird fall out of the tree, really made me look back on that time.

Something I forgot to mention. Mom and Danny were arrested too. Both of them spent a few years in prisons of their own for not telling the police or anybody about me killing Dad. Mom also did a little more time too. Something about endangering children and the fact that she was abusive towards Danny. She acknowledged that and willingly did the time. They're living their happy lives now, and I guess in a way I'm living mine. I can't say that I'm happy about the outcome, but it's just the way my cards were played.

Story by: Shanda Hale
Written by: Shanda Hale
Inspirations: Personal thoughts and ideas