Page 193 of Releasing 10
I was still tossing and turning when my bedroom door creaked open in the middle of the night, followed by the sound of sniffling.
“No, Claire, the Banshee of Ballylaggin isn’t coming to get us,” I called out in the darkness. The sobbing sounds grew louder, and I sighed in defeat. “Fine.” Holding up my duvet, I patted the mattress beside me and grumbled, “You can sleep with me tonight, but this is the last time.”
The sound of her footsteps filled the air moments before she clambered into bed with me. However, the trembling body that welded itself to mine didn’t belong to my sister. It belonged to…
“Gibs?” Confused, I tried to sit up to switch on my lamp, but the way he was clinging to me made that impossible. “What happened, lad?”
“Hughie.” Sobbing uncontrollably, my oldest friend in the world locked his arms and legs around me. “Hughie.”
“I’m here, lad,” I tried to coax, wrapping an arm around him. “Where’s Caoimhe? Does she know you’re over here?”
Heaving out a choked sob, he shook his head. “N-no.”
“Did you sneak out?”
Nodding his head, Gibs squeezed me tighter. “I want my d-dad.”
My heart sank.
Fuck.
“I know you do, Gibs,” I replied, patting his back. “I know, lad. It’s not fair.”
“I j-just want my d-dad to c-come back,” he continued to cry, burying his face in my chest. “I d-don’t want to g-go home.”
“Did you have another nightmare?” I coaxed, while silently thanking Jesus for sparing me from the horrendous affliction. “Hmm? About our communion day?”
He nodded slowly. “It’s m-my f-fault they died—”
“No, it’s not,” I cut in, heart shredding in my chest. “None of what happened that day was your fault, Gibs. Do you hear me? It was an accident.” Swallowing down my emotion, I steadied my voice before adding, “It was a horrible, awful, terrible thing that happened, Gibs, but it was anaccident.” I tightened my arms around his trembling frame. “I know you feel alone in that house since your mam married him, but I promise you that you’re not. You have us. My family is your family, too.” Clenching my eyes shut, I squeezed the shit out of my friend, desperate to soothe his pain. “And you have me, Gibs. You willalwayshave me.”
“Brothers f-forever?” he croaked out.
“Yeah, Gibs,” I promised. “And then some.”
PART 14
The Dissolution of Life as We Know It
A HUGE MISUNDERSTANDING
Hugh
APRIL 24, 2000
“HUGH, LOVE,” MAM SAID IN A HUSHED VOICE, AS SHE SHOOK ME AWAKE IN THEmiddle of the night. “I need you to get up and throw some clothes on.”
“Hmm?” Blinking my eyes open, it took me a few seconds to get my bearings. “What’s wrong?” Locating my mother’s face, I pulled up on my elbows and frowned at her tearstained face. “Mam?” An immediate surge of panic set in. “What’s wrong?”
“Mark called,” Mam choked out, using the back of her hand to wipe the tears streaming down her face. “Keith’s already on the way over. Sadhbh’s downstairs.”
“On the way over where?” Heart racing, I glanced at the alarm clock on my nightstand and felt even more confused. “Why is Sadhbh in our house at four o’clock in the morning?”
“She’s going to watch Gibsie and Claire,” she strangled out, pressing a hand to her chest. “They’re still asleep in her room, but I need you come with me and Dad.”
“Come where?” I demanded, instantly on edge. “Where are we going, Mam? What’s going on?”
“Oh, love, I’m so sorry,” she choked out a gut-wrenching sob. “Caoimhe Young passed away tonight.”
