Page 97 of Releasing 10
“I can’t do this again,” Dad choked out, dropping his head in his hands. “Not again.”
“Michael, I know you have concerns, but your daughter, with the correct medication, will live afullandhealthylife.”
“What can we do?” Reaching for my hand, my mother held it tightly in hers. “How can we make life easier for our daughter?”
“Take your daughter home and love her,” the doctor replied simply. “Never underestimate the healing power of a mother’s love.”
YOU’LL ALWAYS BE MY LADY, MILADY
Hugh
OCTOBER 31, 1996
TODAY WAS MY NINTH BIRTHDAY AND, AS USUAL, MY HOUSE WAS PACKED WITHfriends. The lads were happily plowing their way through my house like a wrecking ball with a game of tip the can, but I didn’t join in. I couldn’t enjoy my party untilshearrived.
When Mam came into my room and told me the good news—that Lizzie was finally home from the hospital—I’d lost it. I had no clue what came over me in that moment, but I broke down and bawled before proceeding to rant like a deranged lunatic at my mother for keeping something so important from me.
When I finally calmed down enough to listen, Mam sat me down and gave me a similar speech about my friend—minus the derogatory slurs Caoimhe had injected—before warning me that, under no circumstances, was I toeverbreathe a word of Lizzie’s private business to my sister, Gibs, Feely, or a single other living soul.
Mam told me that she knew I was bright, but there were some things a mind as young as mine just couldn’t comprehend, no matter how many books I read.
She also told me that I shouldn’t believe what Caoimhe said about Liz being crazy and dangerous becausehermind was also too young to grasp the situation.
When Catherine called this morning to let Mam know that Liz was feeling better and would be coming to my party, it wasthe best birthday present ever. I didn’t care about the unopened parcels waiting inside for me.
All I wanted was Liz.
I was sitting on the porch steps when her dad’s car finally pulled up in front of my driveway. Excitement thundered to life inside of me when Mike climbed out of the driver’s seat and opened the back passenger door. The moment she stepped out of the car and my eyes landed on her, I felt the strange sensation in my chest return. It felt like my heart had been caught up in a fishing hook and I was being reeled back to her.
Liz was wearing red dungarees and an oversized, cream, knitted cardigan, with frilly white ankle socks and patent black shoes. It was a strange combination, but she made it look so fucking cool. But when she started to walk up the driveway, panic rose up in my chest because she moved like she had cement blocks attached to her feet.
“Liz!” Hurrying down the porch steps, I quickly closed the space between us, not stopping until I had her wrapped up in my arms. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Two months.
It had takentwolong months to see my friend again, and now that I had my arms around her, I was afraid to let go.
“Hugh!” Liz didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around my waist, trembling all over, as she buried her face in my neck. “I promise I’ve missed you more.”
“I wanted to come see you, I promise,” I told her, tightening my arms. “I would have come if they’d let me.”
“I know.” She gripped my shirt tightly. “I believe you.”
My attention momentarily shifted to her father, who was still standing near his car talking to my mother. It looked serious. Mike’s brow was creased, and he was talking in a hushed voice, while Mam nodded repeatedly.
Something about the way they both flicked their eyes to Lizzie as they spoke caused me to pull her to my side and wrap an arm around her protectively.
He wasnottaking her away again.
Over my dead body.
“Do you want to play tip the can with the lads?” I asked, quickly guiding her into the house before her dad changed his mind and snatched her back. “Or we could go to the treehouse?” I closed the front door behind us and gave her a reassuring smile. “Whatever you want to do is fine with me.”
“It’s okay, Hugh. You should go enjoy your party,” she replied, voice low and quiet. “I’ll just sit down for a bit.”
No, I wasn’t about to plop her on a chair and leave her alone for the entire party, not when I just got her back.
“I don’t give a shit about my party,” I told her, and it was the truth. The only thing I cared about in this moment was her. “Come on.” Taking her hand in mine, I pulled her toward the staircase. “We can hang out in my room.” I kept a firm hold of her while I led her up the staircase. “It’ll be quiet up here.”
