Page 122 of The Vanishing Place
When the priest finally finished, Adam glanced up too fast and stars flooded the church. He blinked lots, until the stars faded, then peered across at Dinah. But she didn’t raise her head. She didn’t even open her eyes. Dinah didn’t look up until his bum was fully asleep and it was time to leave.
As they walked from the church, Dinah gripped his hand, and Adam pressed his head against her arm. Dinah liked it when he did that.
It was raining outside. Yucky cold blobs. Adam frowned as he looked down. The muddy ground was going to ruin his new shoes. He clung to his sister, pulling warmth from her as they moved toward the car. Sad people moved slow. Even in the rain. Like big black slugs.Squelch. Squelch.Dad and Daniel were at the front, leading the slug train.
Adam wiped the water from his eyes and looked around.
Grass. Gray rain. Gray church. Gray skies. Trees.
Cameron.
Adam blinked. Cameron was there, standing behind a tree at the edge of the grassy area. With no jacket or nothing. He’d be cold. Adam looked at Dinah, but she didn’t look at Cameron. Not a single peek. But she smiled, super small and quick, and Cameron stayed at the tree. He was still there when they drove off in Dad’s big ute.
Adam peered out the window.
Cameron was probably real wet. Probably real bored of all that standing.
—
Stop. Stop.
Adam rolled over in bed, his body shaking, and buried his face into the pillow.
Go away. Go away.
But Mum wouldn’t go away. She was behind his eyelids. Dead. Rotting in the soil. With worms and bugs gobbling at her skin.
“Stop,” he shouted. “Go away.”
Adam opened his eyes and slapped at his face. But the mum thing was still there. The mum made of bones and worms. Adam curled into a ball and started to cry, his body cold and scooped out.
“Dinah,” he sobbed. “Dinah.”
But Dinah didn’t come. She didn’t curl under the covers with him.
“Dinah.”
Dinah always came.
Adam lifted his head, his eyes soggy and hot, and peered through the dark. But Dinah’s bed was empty.
“Dinah,” he yelled.
Snot and tears dripped down his cheeks.
“Dinah!”
Then the bedroom door flung open and the hall light poured in.
“I’m here, Adam. I’m here.” The bed sank with big sister’s body, and she stroked her fingers through his hair. “You’re okay,” she whispered. “You’re okay.”
“Where were you?” he sobbed.
“Dad says I can’t sleep in here anymore.”
Adam frowned. “Why?”
“He says it’s not right for us to share now. That I need to learn my place.”
