[ WP ] A brother and sister meet for the first time in twenty years to visit their mother 's fresh grave and air their grievances against each other .

The sun shone through the white clouds like a painting. It was beautiful. More beautiful than the flowers Janet brought. They were already decaying, even though she bought them a few hours ago. She had a groundskeeper lead her to the fresh grave of Diana Brooks: her mother. 
 
 As her mother's grave came into sight, a man in a black suit was standing over it. From behind, she could n't tell who it was. She silently approached him from behind and stood beside him. Janet looked over and saw her brother, Erik. The two had not spoken since Janet left town for college and never came back. She cut off all ties to the small Iowa town she was raised in and where Erik still lived. 
 
 When Janet saw it was, in fact, her brother, a wave of different emotions flowed in. Happiness, for being reunited with baby brother. Guilt, for leaving him behind. And sadness, for the passing of one of the closest people to her. With all these emotions swirling around her head, she could only muster out a measly `` hi''. 
 
 `` She blamed you.'' said Erik. He did n't look up; it was almost as if he was trying to memorize every groove and crevice inside the headstone. `` She blamed you for what happened to Dad. On her death bed.'' 
 
 Janet looked up. Erik did n't. 
 
 `` I came back so I could pay my respects.'' said Janet, coldly. `` Not for a lecture.'' 
 
 `` Do you even know what happened when you left?'' Erik said as he uprighted himself and turned to Janet. `` You tore this damn family apart.'' 
 
 It was Janet's turn to look back at the headstone. `` You know what? No. I do n't. So get talking, before I turn back and head back to Seattle.'' 
 
 `` You may have been to self-centered to realize that they loved you more than they loved me.'' said Erik, with more intensity that Janet. `` You were the big shot. High honors, varsity soccer, and, to top it all off, a giant scholar ship! You were their pride. You kept them going. When you left, you did n't take the big expectations. I was n't smart enough for them, nor was I quick enough, I had no redeeming qualities in their eyes. I was nothing!'' 
 
 Erik let that last line out for a couple of moments. He let it sink into Janet's ears, observe every ounce of despair, grief and frustration. 
 
 `` They hated me, Janet. Detested my existence.'' Erik said. The shinning sun became obstructed by a passing cloud. `` So, when he lost his job, dad turned to drinking. Jack Daniels was the son that never disappointed him. Smooth, consistent and popular. Words that will never be used to describe me.'' 
 
 `` He beat you.'' Janet said, looking back up. 
 
 `` He did. He beat me pretty hard.'' said Erik. `` He beat mom, too. One day, it got too much. Mom messed up a recipe, so he messed her up. Pretty badly, too. When he stormed back out for a smoke, I took mom to my room, locked the door and called the police. I told them what he was doing to me, to her. A few minutes later, they show up. Dad heard the sirens and went to check it out. I could n't watch. I tucked my head under the window. There was yelling, then a gunshot. 
 
 `` Mom broke down at this point. I'll never forget the sound she made when that gun went off. I ran out. He was dead. I just stood there at the front door. The beatings were over. No more fear, no more pain. But my dad was dead. I was conflicted. 
 
 `` Fast forward two years, and mom's in the hospital. I had just finished a major deal at Kansas City, so I drove home as fast as I could. When I got there, she was leaving. That's when she told me it was your fault. Then she left us.'' 
 
 `` How'd she die?'' 
 
 `` Her heart was weak, so it just... stopped, I guess. There was a medical term and I was just to grief stricken and 
 
 `` It's ok. You did n't kill her.'' 
 
 `` You did.'' 
 
 Janet looked back up. Erik was crying, tear drops falling like rain drops. 
 
 `` She comforted me.'' said Erik. `` She was the closest a person ever was to me. After every beating, she held me in her arms and did n't let go. You took her from me.'' 
 
 `` No, I did n't.'' 
 
 `` Just admit it.'' 
 
 `` No.'' 
 
 `` Just do it!'' screamed Erik. 
 
 `` No, it's your damn fault!'' replied Janet. `` You were home. You could have stopped this. You could have stopped dad from drinking. You could have gotten a job earlier to support the household. You could have made sure that the cops just arrested him, and not shot him. You could have done so many things, but you did n't, so do n't put that blame on me!'' 
 
 Erik was full on crying. Every beating, every milliliter of dad's blood, every last breath mom took, every bad memory and experience; the pain caused from them rushed from his body, shaking him to his core. He put himself on his hands and knees. 
 
 `` Just go, Janet.'' he begged. `` Run away, just one more time. Do n't come back, do n't call me. Just disappear again.'' 
 
 `` Fine.'' Janet said, as cold as a winter's night. She threw the flowers against the ground and stormed off. As she walked off, Erik positioned himself against his mother's grave and got out a flask.
