Crashing into an Old Flame

Daisy glared at her younger sister, ’’I left because I could not bear the sight of that woman. You know the last time she laid a hand on me, I twisted her fingers so hard that her nails broke. As toxic as it is, this is the only way we can defend ourselves for now because dad is too busy to pay attention to us. We are adults, Diana. I know you were not that good in self-defense classes but I am certain that you can handle a woman like our mom who has never been trained. Why do you even endure all this?"

Diana pulled her hand from her sister’s grip as she started wearing her clothes, ’’You want me to hit her?"

’’I want you to defend yourself, goddammit!"

"If it is by hitting her, then I can’t do that. Nor am I strong enough for that.’’

Daisy stepped back from Diana, her brows tugged together as she said, ’’Physically? You can manhandle her easily when she hits you. It is wrong but at least, she will be scared to lay a finger on you the next time. You have trained with me for so long and I know how far you can use your strength. But she abuses you emotionally and you don’t even notice that. She wants to control us like puppets and when things don’t go her way, she hits us. It has always been like that. I was more pathetic than you until one day I stood up for myself. If you don’t stand up for yourself, nobody will. You can at least tell me when this happens so I can be there for you...’’

’’I am fine,’’ Diana sighed as she sat on the bed, ’’If you are asking me to rebel, I don’t want to. We are still dependent on them and I don’t even know what I want from my life so cutting off ties with them will only end up with us starving on the streets.’’

’’You are such a coward. I expected better from you,’’ Daisy stepped back under Diana’s pleading stare, ’’You know what? They have been controlling our lives for as long as I can remember. You are a year younger than me yet they put us in the same grade to invoke a competitive spirit between us. They kept us far away from each other so that we won’t get distracted. And unlike you, I am not trying to help mom. She needs a therapist, not our bloody pity, Diana.’’

’’I can’t hit her back! I am not like that.’’

’’And what do you mean by ’like that’?" Daisy snapped, ’’Like me? Are you despising me? Fine, play the good girl until you are played by her.’’