Page 87 of Releasing 10
“Oh my God, Lizzie, get the fuck out!” Caoimhe screamed, pulling at her duvet to cover herself. “Now!”
I tried to tell her that I was sorry, that I didn’t mean to break the rules, but she was going to be okay because Mark could fix her.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
My eyes flicked to Mark.
He wasn’t looking at me with a cross face.
He was looking at me with a small smile.
I shivered.
“Are you deaf as well as fucking dumb?” This time Caoimhe screamed so loud at me that I felt tears in my eyes. “I said get the hell out.”
Turning on my heels, I bolted from her room as fast as my legs could carry me.
“Don’t roar at her like that,” I heard him shout, but I didn’t stop to listen. Instead, I ran straight to my bed and dove under the covers. Covering my mouth with my hands to stop my screams from getting out, I rocked back and forth under the covers, trying to comfort myself.
It would be okay.
Caoimhe wouldn’t die.
Mark gave her the medicine.
He used his special powers to fix her.
It was good.
This isgood.
I clenched my eyes shut when I felt the tears trickling down my cheeks.
Later that night, when my door opened and my sister walked in, I felt confused because she never visited me at nighttime.
Stiffening, I hid under the covers and tried to make myself as small as I could.
“Don’t hide, Liz,” she said, and her voice wasn’t cross like before. “I’m not mad. I’m sorry.” Sniffling, I peeked up at her when she sat on my bed. “I shouldn’t have called you names,” she told me with a heavy sigh. “But you walked in, and I panicked.”
I wanted to ask if she felt better now.
I wanted to ask if she was going to be okay.
“I know it might have looked like Mark was hurting me earlier, but I promise he didn’t. The opposite, in fact.” Her cheeks turned pink as she spoke. “He was making me feel good, Liz. That’s what boys do for girls they love. They make them feel good. And Mark makes me feel really,reallygood. But you don’t have to worry about any of this now,” she continued, rubbing my arm. “Not until you’re a big girl like me and find a special boy who loves you.”
If boys only did that to girls they loved, did that mean Mark loved me?
Because I didn’t want Mark to love me.
I wantedHughto love me.
“Please try to forget about what you saw tonight.” She blew out a shaky breath and looked at me pleadingly. “And please, please,pleasedon’t tell anyone, and especially not Mam and Dad.”
“Did he make you better?” I croaked out.
“Hmm?”
“Mark,” I strangled, trying not to shiver. “Did he make you feel better?”
