Page 105 of Releasing 10
She nodded wearily. “It’s for the best.”
“Can I do anything to help you?”
“Stay,” she replied with a whimper. “Don’t leave me.”
“I won’t leave you, Liz,” I promised, resisting the urge to pull her into my arms. “I’m staying with you.”
“No matter what?”
“Yeah, Liz.” Stroking her cheek, I leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “No matter what.”
“Will I be okay, Hugh?” she asked then, looking up at me like I had the answers. “Will I ever be normal like the other girls?”
Her words tore strips out of my heart and I felt an intense urge to soothe her fears. “Listen to me, because I’m going to let you in on a little secret.”
“You are?”
“Mm-hmm.” Reaching for her arms, I gently pulled her into a sitting position before smoothing her matted hair over her shoulders. “There’s no such thing as normal, Liz. It doesn’t exist. It’s just a word someone invented to make everyone behave the exact same way so they can tick the exact same boxes.”
“Really?”
Hell if I knew, but that was my theory on the matter. “It’s just a word,” I repeated, wiping a tear from her cheek. “And you arewaytoo special to tick the ‘normal’ box.”
“I am?”
“Yep.” Nodding, I smiled at her. “You could never be described by a word, Liz, and especially not a boring one likenormal. You know what else? I wouldn’t change a single thing about you. I love that you don’t tick that boring box.”
Sniffling, she reached for my hand. “You wouldn’t change me if you could?”
“Nope.”
“How come?”
“Because then you wouldn’t beyou,” I explained, wiping away another one of her tears. “And a world without Lizzie Young would be a travesty.”
“Travesty,” she repeated slowly, mulling over the word.
“Listen, I know you’re feeling tired, and it’s totally grand if you don’t want to, but would you like to take a walk outside with me?”
She stared at me for a long time before nodding her head. “Yeah, Hugh, I’d like that.”
YEAH, ELIZABETH
Lizzie
JANUARY 17, 1997
FEELING DAZED AND OFF BALANCE, ITRUDGED THROUGH THE FIELDS AT THE BACK OFour property with Hugh by my side. Stumbling over uneven surfaces and potholes, I tried to get my bearings, while Hugh remained patient the entire time.
I felt like I was emerging from hibernation. Like a bear waking up after a long winter’s sleep. The watery sunshine felt strange on my face, but the feel of his hand in mine feltright.
I knew Hugh could walk a lot faster than this, and I was slowing him down, but he seemed content to keep pace with me, while I felt more alive than I had in weeks.
We walked for hours through the fields and country lanes, while Hugh filled me in on everything that had happened since our last meetup. I couldn’t retain much of what he was telling me, but the sound of his voice was so soothing that I never wanted him to stop talking to me. I could spend the rest of my life listening to his voice and never grow tired.
It was hard to explain the comfort Hugh’s presence gave me.
He made it easy to be alive.
