The Promise I Was Afraid to Keep

A quiet Saturday, parents out, seventeen and alone in the garden, until shouting starts upstairs between his brother and sister and does not stop.

Saturday evening

The house looked completely normal when I came home that Saturday.

That was the part I kept thinking about afterward.

Sunlight stretched across the living-room floor, turning the windows pale gold. My parents were out, the television was off, and nothing seemed unusual. I dropped my bag on the couch and went into the garden.

The afternoon was warm but comfortable. For a few minutes, I sat outside and enjoyed the quiet. At seventeen, I had become good at disappearing into my own world whenever I had the chance.

Then I heard shouting.

It came from upstairs, muffled by the walls. I recognized my brother’s voice first, followed by my sister’s.

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Quick answers about The Promise I Was Afraid to Keep

What is The Promise I Was Afraid to Keep about?

A quiet Saturday, parents out, seventeen and alone in the garden, until shouting starts upstairs between his brother and sister and does not stop.

Is The Promise I Was Afraid to Keep free to read?

Yes. Every story on RapidTale is free to read in the browser, with no sign-up and nothing to install.

How long does it take to read?

This story runs 1 chapter — most readers finish in one sitting, and you can stop and return to any chapter using the contents list.

Who wrote it?

Nimra Khan — original fiction published on RapidTale.