Page 6 of Bozo

"You’re not a freak," I say adamantly. "You’re my best friend."

Connor squeezes my hand. "Trust me, I’m a freak. My dad only likes me because I’m super smart and able to make him loads of money."

I smile at him. “You’re a genius?” I ask and he nods. “That’s so cool. I’m kind of dumb. At least, that’s what Dad tells me. He says I’m dumber than a box of nails.”

Connor’s eyes narrow. “Your dad’s an asshole.”

A giggle escapes me. “Yeah, he is. He wasn’t always. When Mam died, he became mean and hurt me.”

“What was your mam like?” he asks.

I smile, remembering her warm hugs and gentle voice. "She was the best," I say softly. "She always smelled like flowers and cookies. She'd sing to me every night before bed.”

Connor listens intently, a sad smile on his face. "She sounds amazing."

"She was," I whisper, feeling the familiar ache in my chest. "I miss her so much."

"I'm sorry," Connor says, squeezing my hand again. "I wish I could bring her back for you."

I nod, wiping away a stray tear with my free hand. "Me too. But..." I hesitate, glancing at Connor. "I'm glad I met you. You make things a little better."

His face lights up with a grin. "You make things better for me too, Gráinne."

We sit in silence for a while, gently swinging back and forth. The sun is warm on our faces, and for a moment, I can almost forget about the bruises and the fear waiting for me at home.

"Hey," Connor says suddenly, his eyes bright with excitement. "I have an idea. What if we made a secret hideout?"

I tilt my head, curious. "A hideout? Where?"

He jumps off the swing, pulling me with him. "I know the perfect place. Come on!"

Hand in hand, we run out of the playground and down a nearby alley. Connor leads me through a maze of backyards and narrow passages until we reach an abandoned lot overgrown with weeds and bushes.

"It's back here," he says, pushing aside a tangle of branches to reveal a small, hidden clearing.

I gasp as I step into the open space. It's like a tiny, secret world. There’s a run-down old shed that’s behind loads of big trees, keeping it hidden from the world.

"This is amazing," I breathe, spinning in a slow circle to take it all in.

Connor beams with pride. "I found it a few weeks ago. I've been coming here when things get bad at home. But I wanted to share it with you."

I feel a warmth spreading through my chest. "Really?"

He nods. "We can make it our own special place. Somewhere safe, just for us."

I throw my arms around him in a tight hug. "Thank you," I whisper.

As we spend the afternoon clearing space and planning our hideout, I find I’m not as sad as I was when I woke up this morning. I finally have someone who isn’t going to hurt me.

THREE

GRÁINNE

Seven Years Ago

Aged Thirteen

“What’s wrong, Sunshine?” Connor asks as he catches up to me. I’m walking home from the shop–not that I bought anything, I just needed to get out of the house–now I’m dragging my feet, not wanting to go home. Of course Connor saw me leaving the shop and decided to follow me. “You seem like you’re about to cry. What’s your dad done now?”

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