Page 21 of Silent Damage

Gabe looks at me with a sad expression. “I already know.”

I’m stunned. “You do?”

“She told me.”

“No shit.” I take a seat, still reeling from the bombshell. “When did she tell you?” I ask. “And has she told your dad?”

“I found out like a year ago.”

The sound of rustling leaves vanishes, and what emerges is a high-pitched ringing in my ears.

“What?” I ask.

“Huh?” Gabe replies.

“Y-you knew… a year ago?”

Gabe nods.

“But I asked you about it. You said you didn’t think anything was happening—said that right to my face- and you knew? You knew a fucking year ago?”

“Well, Mom told me not to say anything.”

I don’t think Gabe understands why that broke my heart. They say you can’t choose your family, but they don’t talk about how much it hurts knowing your family wouldn’t choose you.

That if Doug and Mom had a choice, they wouldn’t have picked me.

The little ways that Linda cared meant the world to me. She’d help me with my homework, feed me dinner, and remember my birthday…

Saying she was trying to help when it was a lie broke me. I thought for once an adult was trying to help me instead of beating me down. How could Gabe not understand why that hurt so much?

And Gabe…

He was my everything. The one I thought would choose me.

But he didn’t—he chose our fucked up parents.

He kept Doug’s secret until Doug was ready to tell Mom and me to fuck off and scramble to pick up the pieces.

I wanted to run away with Gabe. It was going to be just the two of us—no more parent bullshit.

But how could I be with him when he lied about something so big?

That’s why I can’t forgive him. I let him in—showed him my scars—while he lied to me for a whole year.

He just doesn’t get it.

He never will.

Chapter 7

Gabe

Istudy my reflection in the bathroom mirror, examining the scrapes on my face and arms, in nothing but my boxer briefs.

I don't know where Jason is, and I don't give a shit.

All I know is he'd better stay the fuck away from me.