It's time again for the weekly Indie Ink writing challenge. This week I was challenged by the lovely alyssa from alyssagoesbang. The challenge she gave to me was "This needs work". My challenge went to Rachel in the OC. You will be able to read her reply on her blog HERE
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Jamie was a naturally, talented sculptor. That is why when Jamie locked herself in her studio and stopped answering the phone, everyone assumed she was just working on her next piece. She would always lock herself away from the world when she was in the "zone". However, John, her twin brother, felt something different about this piece. He didn't know what it was. It was just a feeling. He and Jamie had never really shared that twin thing people always talked about, but suddenly it seemed to be kicking in.
After being unable to reach Jamie for more than two days, John decided to go to her studio. He just had to be sure she was ok. The pit in his stomach continued to grow as he approached the front door of the studio. From outside he could hear the music blaring that she played as she worked. John knocked on the door, but Jamie didn't answer. He tried to listen for sounds inside the studio, but the music drowned out any sound that may have been within the studio's walls. Uncertain of what to do next, John suddenly found himself kicking in the door of Jamie's studio. He knew she was going to be angry, but the pit in his stomach just wouldn't let him leave.
As soon as he entered the studio, John knew something was wrong. He couldn't see Jamie anywhere. There were no signs she had been working on a new sculpture. He slowly made his way to the back of the studio. Jamie had made that area into living quarters for when she was in the "zone".
At first John couldn't figure out what was happening. Jamie was sitting on the edge of the bed. He could hear her muttering, but was unable to hear what she was saying. He reached over and turned off the stereo. The studio fell instantly quiet.
"Jamie, are you ok?" he asked. "Jamie, it's John. I was worried about you. I just wanted to be sure you were ok".
Jamie didn’t move. She just sat there, frozen. As John made his way around to where Jamie sat, her words became clear.
“It just needs a little work. Then I’ll be perfect”.
It was all John could do not to vomit when he saw what Jamie had done to herself. He took the bloody sculpting tool from her hand and raced to the bathroom to grab some towels. He began applying pressure to the gaping holes Jamie had cut in her body.
“It’s going to be ok Jamie. We’re going to get you help”. John tried to sound calmer than he felt. Frantically he dialed 911. “Please hurry” he whispered into the phone.
The ambulance arrived within minutes although it seemed like hours had passed since he entered the studio and found his sister covered in blood caused by her own hand. Jamie was taken into surgery immediately upon arrival at the hospital. John was told to wait in the family waiting area.
He collapsed into an empty chair as soon as he walked into the room. The full weight of the day’s events filled his mind and a long forgotten memory flashed before his eyes. He could see his 13 year old self sitting on the sofa in the living room of the family home. Jamie was standing in the center of the room, naked. He could hear the voice of their drunken father as he mocked and laughed at Jamie. Poking at her body. Grabbing at her breasts. Licking the tears that slid down her cheeks. Even though John always kept his eyes tightly shut during these sadistic inspections of Jamie’s body, he could hear the slurred words of his father, “This here needs a little work and then you’ll be perfect”.
Lost in the past, John didn’t hear the nurse enter the waiting area. He nearly jumped out of the chair as she gently touched him to gain his attention. “Your sister’s out of surgery. There will be a lot of scarring, but she is going to live”.
“When can I see her?” John asked. “Please I need to see her. Just for a moment.”
“Ok” the nurse seemed to understand the unspoken plea in John’s voice. “But just for a minute. She is sedated and probably won’t even know you’re there”.
“It’s ok. I just need to see her”. Tears began to fall from his eyes as he entered the hospital room where his once beautiful sister lay. Bandages covered almost every inch of her face, arms, neck and chest. He quietly approached her bed and leaned over her, kissing her softly on the head. Just like he did whenever their father would leave the room and he would grab the afghan off the sofa and wrap around Jamie’s exposed body. Even though he knew Jamie couldn’t hear him, he said the words anyways.
“You’re perfect just the way you are. I will never let you forget again. I love you, my beautiful sister”.
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