Sheer Terror

For some reason my sister got beat up often by my both of our parents I think it was because she didn't smile for the first dozen years of her life. I don't blame her. It was more likely that she committed the crime of entering puberty, something I did my best to thwart. Arms and legs would go flying. It was terrifying. I'll be good I thought. I'll be good. To this day she has the Don't hit me expression on her face, the nervous wrinkle between the eyebrow, and it kills me. That 13 year old is still looking out at the world in sheer terror.