Page 237 of As the Rain Falls
Other hands.
Angelina’s.
Covering me.
I don’t want to be touched.
Please, stop touching me.
Everybody is seeing this.
Seeing me.
Seeing everything in me.
Touching me.
Do they see him?
Do they see what he did to me?
Stop.
No one sees you, Cassandra.
They don’t care.
Mom left you with me again.
You really think she doesn’t know?
She never wanted you.
I’ll kill you one day, and they won’t even care.
“Shh, it’s okay.” She presses me against her chest, pulling me away towards the stairs. More people are coming. There’s a floor above us. I don’t feel any less naked. They’re all going to see me. “It’s okay, Cassie. We’re here now.”
“Where’s Mr. Fernandez?” Someone else says. Mateo. It’s Mateo’s voice. “Fuck, he’s on the second floor.”
Pushed.
Dragged.
Doors being opened.
I’m being rushed outside.
The whispers turn louder.
“Who did this?” Mateo asks, turning towards Laura. “Was it you?”
“I was just—” She rolls her eyes, like this wasn’t meant to be taken seriously at all. “I was just teaching her a lesson.”
“A lesson?” Angelina yells, angry cold eyes staring her down. “You’re a fucking criminal, Laura!”
I don’t want them to fight because of me.
I don’t want anyone to get in trouble.
