Page 81 - The Houseguest

address to a friend at work in fear she would disappear at his hands, and that friend called for a welfare check when they couldn’t contact her after she didn’t show up for work.
His dad had used strong fishing line wrapped over and over to increase its strength. The problem was, as he was assaulting her, he ordered her to scream a name out, as if in pleasure. If she didn’t comply, he would backslap her across her mouth repeatedly. She became accustomed to the routine and as he would be in the middle of his revolting assault, she would yell out as instructed: “Brian! Brian!” as convincingly as she could through the vomit rising up in her throat. The unfortunate part was, his father’s name was Victor.
Brian was arrested for unlawful restraint, which he likened to kidnapping through the years rather than to have to explain the difference. He was also charged with sexual assault. The ironic part was, he was the one who reached out to help the woman. The shame his father had bestowed upon him with his lies were worse than all the beatings and abuse combined. Brian had never touched a woman who wasn’t interested in his advances. His sister had taught him better than that growing up. And because he respected her, he held women in high esteem. That’s why his father’s successful ruse was the most painful for him. knew the truth, but she was an unreliable witness due to her reputation and had no recourse but to watch her brother be put behind bars for the heinous offenses their father had committed.
Brian found writing this section in defense of his convictions very cathartic. Sure, he had pretended to participate in psychobabble group sessions in prison, for the credit, but he never reached this level of self-
81
The Houseguest by Linda Ellis www.LindaEllis.life