This story was originally published on 3/6/17. I was very worried about how this story would do for two reasons. The first was that this was my first story to discuss in-depth a social issue. The second was that the Main Female Character in this story is flat-chested. In the porn I've read, the female characters are always well-endowed or super well-endowed. I don't think I had ever read a story with a flat-chested female character. I did get some pushback for discussing domestic abuse, but no one said a word about my MFC being flat-chested.
I took this and all my other stories down in January 2023. I've done some cleanup before republishing it.
On a Wednesday night in early April, I was unwinding in bed when there was a light knock on my door.
"Come in."
My sister Michelle opened the door. "Chris, can I talk for a while?"
"Sure."
Michelle closed the door and didn't turn the lights on. I could barely make her out as she made her way over to my bed. She lay down next to me on her stomach with her head close to the headboard.
When our parents redecorated their bedroom, I got their old king-sized bed. I had eight small pillows on my bed. As usual, when I first got under the covers, I formed a triangle with the pillows behind my back so that I was supported in a sitting-up position. Eventually, I'd get sleepy and then roll over on my side and go to sleep. Where Michelle was lying, she was within easy reach of my right hand.
I knew Michelle was upset by the way she had addressed me. Normally, she used my full first name Christopher and said it in a way that mocked the pretentiousness of using such a long first name. It was a little joke between us. When I was old enough to understand what pretentiousness was, I switched to using Chris. Only family called me Christopher.
Michelle played with my blanket for a while and then said, "I broke up with Jared today."
Jared had been Michelle's boyfriend for the last year and a half. He was twenty-two, which was two years older than me and four years older than her. He was a big guy and worked as a bouncer at a bar. Nice, very protective of Michelle.
"I'm sorry to hear it. What brought on the break up?"
"I don't want to discuss it."
"Okay."
Michelle didn't leave and she didn't say anything else. I felt like she wanted to be comforted. I reached out my right hand and stroked her back. Michelle was very slim, so she had a small back. I kept stroking it, running my hand across her shoulder blades and then slowly working down to the small of her back before returning to her shoulder blades.
Michelle didn't say anything for a while. Finally, she said, "That feels nice."
I didn't say anything. I felt she wanted to say more so I waited patiently, continuing to stroke her back.
Eventually, Michelle asked, "Chris, would you please do me a favor?"
"Probably."
"Would you pick me up at school tomorrow?" Michelle was still a senior in high school. "Could you take me to work tomorrow?"
I took morning classes at the local community college and worked from three to close as an assistant manager at a chain pharmacy store. I worked Tuesday through Saturday. I usually spent the time between the end of my last class and the start of work at my girlfriend Gina's apartment. She was also a student at the community college. We'd study for a while and fuck for a while. Michelle worked at a fast food place five to nine Monday through Friday. She didn't have a car. Jared had picked up her from school, taken her to his place, and then taken her to work.
From the way Michelle had asked, she had sounded in pain. Taking her to work would be a hassle, but I felt I couldn't tell her no.
"I'll pick you up, no problem. I'll work it out with my manager to take you to work. I may have to take you a little early."
I was still stroking Michelle's back. I felt her relax. She said, "That'd be okay. I'm going to need a car. Would you help me buy one this weekend?"
"Sure."
Michelle continued lying on her stomach on my bed. I continued stroking her back. I didn't know if she had more to ask or say, so I waited patiently.
After a while, Michelle said, "The backstrokes feel so good. Can I borrow a pillow?"
I gave Michelle one of my pillows. She put it under her head and scooched closer to me. I continued stroking her back. For probably twenty minutes, I stroked her back as Michelle lay close to me. I started getting sleepy. I'd normally roll over into the spot Michelle was lying in and go to sleep, but I obviously couldn't do that.
At last, Michelle said sleepily, "I need to get to my bed before I fall asleep here. Thanks, Chris."
Michelle got up and left the room. I put the pillow she had used back into the triangle and lay there for a few more minutes before rolling over and going to sleep.
* * * *
In between classes, I called my manager and told her I needed to start work a little late today and tomorrow because of family issues. She was fine with that. I left Gina's early and picked up Michelle from school. Michelle had asked me to pick her up at the backside of the school. We talked about our classes on the way home. Something seemed wrong, but Michelle apparently didn't want to discuss it. Michelle was studying when I left for work.
At four, I left work and went home. I picked up Michelle and drove her to her work. We talked some more. Michelle seemed to be putting up a brave front while struggling to keep it together. I felt like I had made the right decision to pick her up and take her to work. Dad would pick her up as usual.
That night, Michelle came into my room again after I had gone to bed. She lay down next to me on her stomach and asked, "Can I have a pillow please?" I gave her one.
I stroked her back again and waited. After about ten minutes, Michelle said, "Do you want to know why I broke up with Jared?"
"Sure."
"He slapped me."
"Holy shit, Michelle. He slapped you? What an asshole! Do you want me to teach him a lesson?"
"Calm down. All I want you to do is listen."
"You could press charges..."
"Stop. I don't want you to make suggestions. I don't want you to get revenge for me. I don't even want you to call Jared an asshole. All I want you to do is listen. Okay?"
"Okay." I was pissed off. I wanted to get out of bed and go find Jared. But I would stay here and listen to Michelle as she wanted. Then I'd go find Jared.
Michelle didn't say anything for a while. I continued stroking her back. She was tense again like she had been last night before asking me if I could pick her up and take her to work. I waited for her to say what more she had to say.
Michelle broke the silence by saying, "We were having dinner." During the week, Michelle and Jared had eaten dinner early together before going off to their respective workplaces. "Jared was complaining I had cooked the pasta too long and it was soft and mushy. I reached for his plate to offer to throw away the pasta and make him something else. As I reached, I knocked over my glass of milk. Jared said, 'You stupid bitch' and slapped me."
I was even more shocked. I even more wanted to track him down.
"He was all apologetic afterward. He hadn't meant it. He had gotten carried away. He would never do it again. He was really nice to me the rest of the day. That was Tuesday."
The light was off in my room. A little light came in through the window, enough that I could see Michelle was crying. I kept stroking her back. I didn't know what else to say or do and it seemed to be what she wanted.
Michelle continued, "Tuesday night after work, I looked on the Internet about abusive relationships. The articles described my relationship with Jared to a T. Jared is very controlling and constantly criticizes me. He's forced me to give up all of my friends. He expects me to do all the cleaning and cooking at his apartment. From what I read, the physical abuse would continue, occurring more often and worse."
Michelle was quiet as I made a circuit across her back. Then she said, "I loved Jared. He made me feel so special. He put me up on a pedestal. He spent a lot of money on me; taking me out to nice dinners and buying me nice clothes. He made me feel so safe and protected. No guy would mess with his woman. I just never realized he'd be the threat one day."