Midnight Dream – Chapter 9
I tried to stay quiet.
I really did.
But sitting there, watching him laugh like nothing ever happened, watching everyone treat him like he was something good, made something inside me snap.
I stood up slowly.
My chair scraped against the floor, louder than I expected.
The room went quiet.
"I'm tired," I said.
My voice wasn't loud, but it was enough.
"I'm tired of pretending like everything is okay."
A few people turned to look at me.
My sister frowned.
"Midnight... what are you talking about?" she asked.
I didn't answer her.
I was looking at him.
"Tell them," I said.
He smirked.
Like this was funny.
Like I was a joke.
"Tell them," I said again.
This time louder.
He leaned back in his chair, completely unbothered.
"Tell them what?" he said.
I swallowed hard.
My chest tightened.
But I didn't back down.
"Your husband..."
My voice cracked.
I forced it out.
"He's the one who raped me."
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
It was like the room forgot how to breathe.
My sister let out a small laugh, shaking her head.
"What are you talking about?" she said. "That's not funny."
"I'm not joking," I said.
Her face slowly changed.
Confusion.
Then disbelief.
Then anger.
"You're lying," she said.
Her voice broke.
"Say you're lying... please say you're lying."
I shook my head.
"The first time I met him was at a store," I said. "He came up to me and told me he liked me."
I paused.
"I rejected him."
I looked at him.
"And he didn't like that."
My sister's brows pulled together.
"When you got with him, I didn't think anything of it at first, but something about him felt familiar."
My voice started to shake.
"It wasn't until he came over the house that I realized why."
I took a deep breath.
"You left to go grab something."
"It was just him and Mama."
The room stilled.
"I woke up to use the bathroom, and I heard noise coming from Mama's room."
I looked straight at her.
"They were in there together."
Gasps filled the room.
"I went back to bed. I didn't even process it."
My voice dropped.
"But he came into my room after."
My hands clenched at my sides.
"I was half asleep."
"He held me down."
I paused, struggling to breathe.
"And Mama watched."
The room erupted.
"No!" my sister screamed. "No, that's not true!"
I looked at her.
"It didn't stop there."
My voice was stronger now.
"The drive-in theater."
"That's why I took so long."
"And my 21st birthday."
Her face dropped.
Everything started connecting.
She slowly turned to him.
"Are you serious?" she shouted. "You told me you had to use the bathroom, but you were doing that?!"
He sighed like he was annoyed.
"I mean... she had it coming," he said casually.
The room gasped.
"I liked her first," he continued. "She rejected me. No one rejects me."
He shrugged.
"So I got with you to get closer to her."
My sister's face broke.
"You're sick," she whispered.
"I never loved you," he said. "You were easy. Too easy. I like a challenge."
Tears streamed down her face.
"We have kids together," she cried. "You married me. I trusted you."
He laughed.
"Those kids were a mistake."
Her knees buckled.
"I never wanted you," he said. "Every time I was with you, I was thinking about her."
The room was silent.
Cold.
"And just so you know," he added, adjusting his jacket, "you might want to get checked."
She froze.
"I recently found out I have AIDS."
A scream tore through the room.
"You heartless son of a—!" she cried.
She ran over to me.
"I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "I'm so sorry for not seeing it, for not protecting you, for not being there."
I broke.
Tears falling freely now.
"I forgave you a long time ago," I whispered.
She cried harder.
Then she turned to Mama.
"You're evil!" she screamed.
Mama stood up slowly.
Her face cold.
Unmoved.
Like none of this mattered.
Then she slapped her.
"Watch your mouth," she snapped.
My sister stepped back, shaking.
"Stay away from me and my children!" she cried. "Stay away from us! I hope you both rot!"
People were staring.
Whispering.
Disgusted.
Shocked.
Everything was falling apart.
He stood up like nothing happened.
"Well... I think I'm done here," he said. "I'll send the divorce papers."
And he walked out.
Laughing.
My sister ran after him, trying to fight him.
I rushed to grab her.
"It's not worth it," I said. "Let him go."
He left.
And slowly, everyone else did too.
The room that once felt full was empty.
I turned to Mama.
Tears still falling.
"You're evil," I said.
I paused.
"But I forgive you."
She didn't respond.
Didn't even look at me.
"Come on," I said softly, reaching for my sister.
"Let's go."