"I Fell for Both Sisters – Now Their Family Is Falling Apart"

 

A heated argument on a weathered porch: an angry father shouts at a young woman while the exhausted mother and four worried children watch in the background of a neglected yard.

Torn Between Two Sisters: A Heartbreaking Neighborhood Confession"

Mr. Benny is a forty-nine-year-old deadbeat father to his four children and wife. He neglects them so badly that he never gives his wife any allowance money, and she struggles to provide for her children. At the end of the day, he would come home late at night and demand that she set his plate for food he never provided or contributed even a penny toward.

He is tall and has a birthmark on his face. He wears faded clothes and most times sleeps all day and never cares about anyone or anything—just the air he breathes.

He spends more time prowling the bars and dive bars whenever he gets his pay. One would think he would set aside a few bucks for his family, but no, he never does that. And the wife, Mrs. Maggie, is the one who pays the rent. It's taking a toll on her—at forty, she looks like a seventy-year-old because she does three jobs just to survive with her children.

Her eldest daughter is Rose, a hot-tempered young woman of twenty. She is beautiful with all the qualities of a virtuous woman. She just has that hot temper that can make her do things, and she is scared of boys. She has vowed not to lose her virtue until the day she says "I do."

Her second daughter is Emily. She is wild and loves to party. She dresses like a man in big baggy jeans and t-shirts. She hangs out with every Tom, Dick, and Harry. She doesn't care about the consequences, and she just takes life as it comes, according to her motto, "We only have one life," so she burns it all in partying and clubbing. She is beautiful—more than her sister—but her wild side is what has people shifting away.

Then comes Ella, her third daughter. She is prettier than her two elder sisters. At just fifteen, she is tall and looks like a twenty-year-old woman. She has a weakness, and it is all about food. She loves eating, and she cries anytime she gets hungry and there is no food. She behaves like a kid of three, and that gets people angry because how can a girl of fifteen cry because she is hungry while kids who are just five are not crying.

Her last kid is Emma, a boy of ten. He loves playing and can run around the neighborhood from dawn till dusk. A kid who, while he sleeps, would be murmuring in his dream, "Yes, I kick him, no, don't push me."

And sometimes you see him while sleeping raise his leg up and act like he is running.

It was a family of lesser privilege, and they lived on charity most times. Mr. Benny doesn't care about how people look at him or how his kids have started disrespecting him. He too has a temper that can even take a life when he is angry.

One day, he called his daughter Ella to bring him his food, and when she did, he started eating. After a few spoonfuls, he spat it out and muttered, "poverty food."

I was sitting on my porch watching him because I love the drama that follows him and his family. Mind you, I care about his family, and I provide for them whenever they ask. And I will not lie—I have a thing for the first daughter, though it is not official, just a few here-and-there romances.

I watched as Mr. Benny stood up and approached me. "Good evening, Alex," he said as he stood just a few meters from me.

"Good evening, Mr. Benny. I saw you spitting out your food. What happened?"

"Grrrah," he tried to clear his throat and spat out again. "That is poverty food. I can't believe that woman could cook such nonsense."

"Hey," I protested, "man, you can't say that about your wife."

"What if I do?" he replied.

"That is not cool," I said. "Imagine how she works to make that dish, and you refer to it as poverty food."

"I can refer to it as whatever I like, and you can do nothing."

"So why don't you provide for them?" I asked him. "Why let them suffer, and you refer to food bought with hard-earned money as poverty food?"

He grew angry and rounded on me. "Will you shut it? How dare you question me?"

I grew angry too. "How can you call yourself a man? You go about pretending as if all is well while your family suffers."

"Is it your family?" he asked me, spittle flying from his mouth, and a few landed on my face. I involuntarily took a step back and brought out my handkerchief to wipe my face. "Mind how you spray your acidic spittle like a cobra," I said, going into the house to wash my face. After a few moments, I came out, and he was still standing there. "What do you want?" I asked.

"Calm down, Alex. You're still young—don't let your blood pressure rise by getting angry."

"What do you want?" I asked again.

"See, man, don't be angry. I just need a few bucks—just lend me a few $100. I will refund by the next paycheck."

"Sorry, I don't have it," I said, sitting down again and forgetting he was there.

"Can you borrow from someone and give it to me?" he asked.

I sat there stupefied by his audacity. What sort of man is this? How can he even reason like this? Asking me to borrow cash from someone for him—wow. "What!" I exclaimed.

"You can borrow from someone. You're a trusted person, and people love you."

"Don't ever ask me to do such again, man. You can get off my porch, and you're not welcome here again," I said as I stood up and went inside.

Rose started working after I pressured her about doing something worthwhile to reduce the burden from her mom. She started working at a grocery store, and it was getting better as it helped her and her family. Though she and I had a thing, we only saw each other at night when she closed from work. It was frustrating waiting for her, but there is nothing I can do. I always say, "Adult life is not easy once the bills start coming."

Emily wasn't working, and she started spending some time with me when I was at home. Though I fought it manfully, I always had strong feelings for her. It was hard having her right in front of me when my heart was torn. I wonder why life plays such tricks because I care deeply for Rose and now Emily too—they are both sisters from the same parents. I never knew feelings could get this complicated. To be honest, she is prettier than Rose and has a spark that draws everyone, while I can say Rose is sweet and steady in her own way.

I was growing confused and couldn't hold it anymore when I told her about my feelings. "Emily, I think I'm falling for you," I said to her one day as we sat talking.

"You think?"

I changed my tack. "Not think—I'm falling for you."

"What about Rose?"

"See, that is the hardest part. I care for Rose too."

She laughed and said, "You are really confused."

"Yeah, only a confused man would feel this way. But I really care about you," I said, looking her in the eyes.

"Hmm, okay."

The problem is getting Rose to understand it, and I don't know how to break that news to her.

It was a shock when one day I went to see Rose and heard the music she was playing: "Because Of You" by Kelly Clarkson.

I will not make the same mistakes that you did

I nervously said, "Hi."

There was no response, and I started sweating. I prodded her on the shoulder, but there was no answer, and this got me sweating even more as my hands shook. "Eh, Rose!"

"How could you do this to me?"

"Eh, what are you talking about?" I asked her as I avoided her eye contact.

"Look me in the eyes, Alex."

I fumbled with my button, pretending it had gotten loose. "What is the matter?" I asked, daring to look at her and averting my eyes again.

"See, you can't even look me in the eyes."

"But I just did," I lied.

"Are you falling for Emily too?"

There was silence for a good two minutes as I held my breath and wondered how she found out. I inhaled and then exhaled. "Yes, I am."

"But why? You knew she is my sister, and you and I have a thing."

"I knew," I said, sitting down. "Please have a seat," I said, sounding tired. Honestly, you can never feel strong when you hide your feelings—it weighs on you when you least expect it. A finger snap at my face brought me out of my thoughts.

"Yes, my heart is pulling toward Emily too."

She started crying as the tears spilled. I hurried to her, but she pushed me away. I held firm and said, "Hear me out, please."

"I care for you, and words can't express how much. I care for Emily too, and it would hurt us all if I ignored it. You know how wild she is, and you know me to be a good man. If I can help guide her for the better, why not give it a chance? You love your sister, and I care for both of you. I just don't want to lose any of you. Please just give it a thought. I'm willing to do the right thing by everyone."

She sat down in stunned shock as I made my way home, asking her to think about my honesty and give us a chance to figure things out together. I walked as Kelly Clarkson kept playing, and I wondered what her decision would be. To be honest, I'm a good man, and she can attest to that. But feelings this complicated—that is something many people will find hard to understand. I just hope we can move forward.

What would you do if you were Rose?