Page 26 of I Saved Him Too

“I’m sorry, Doni. I—I wasn’t feeling good,” she said without meeting my eyes.

If anyone knows Shorty well, it’s me.

And I know she’s lying.

Why is she lying? Doesn’t she trust me?

“Shorty, what happened?”

She pulled the covers up her chest.

“Come on. We don’t hide from one another.” I reached for her hands to pause her movement forcing her to look at me.

She didn’t respond and a lonely tear escaped her eye. I reached to wipe it away, but she flinched.

I stop with my hand in midair.

“Shorty—why did you move away from me? You know I would never hurt you, right?”

Shorty shakes her head but still won’t look at me.

I took a deep breath and tried to relax, but it was hard when all I felt was panic bubbling inside me.

Then it clicked.

“Shorty, di-did your fa-father hurt you?” I swallowed a lump of fear.

One.

Two.

Three.

“Yes.”

Three seconds.

One word.

My chest cracked in half, and I wanted to turn into the Hulk.

Smash!

“Doni, I hurt.” Her voice cracked.

“Where do you hurt, Shorty? Where did he hurt you?”

She shoved the covers off and pulled her pajama legs up.

I couldn’t move or speak. Purple and blue bruises that looked like splattered paint covered both legs, one bruise the size of a baseball on her upper right thigh, and scrapes on both knees.

“Oh, no.” I tried to hide the pain in my voice, but I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

I cried.

Boys don’t cry.

But I did.

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