I answered. “Dorian—”
The hands came from behind me, large hands.
They covered my whole face.
I couldn’t even scream, the phone slipping from my fingers. I punched at the hands, kicking, and soon, the hand over my mouth was replaced with a cloth.
I breathed in, things getting hazy. I stared down at my phone, the thing shattered but my last thought had been Dorian’s smile. That lazy grin had always made it into my thoughts, and I hated myself that I hadn’t told him how it made me feel. That I hadn’t told him how he made me feel.
I should have told him.
My eyes rolled back as I gave into the darkness. I hoped I got to see that grin again.
Chapter Forty-One
Sloane - age 6
Mommy and Daddy were arguing again.
They thought I was asleep.
I couldn’t sleep because my head hurt again. The doctor said it would hurt for a while.
“He’s going to be angry,” Daddy whispered. Mommy and Daddy’s room was on the other side of my wall. “How could you do this? Do this to her?”
“I did what I did for her,” Mommy said, crying. She didn’t speak for a while, sniffling. “I had to try, Godfrey. I love her.”
Daddy said nothing. Their room was so quiet.
“She’ll be worse off,” Daddy gasped. “When he finds out, she’ll be worse off.”
“He won’t.”
“He will, Marilyn. Doesn’t matter where he is. He has ears everywhere. He’ll find out what you tried to do.”
“How would he?” Mommy’s voice was shaking. “You’re not going to tell, and she can’t. Her recall has suffered. You heard the physician.”
Mommy was using big words, and I didn’t understand.
Daddy huffed. “And thank God for that. Thank God any memory of what you tried to do was left back there, but that won’t stop him. He’ll still have people question her.”
“So we run.”
“Run?” Daddy paused. “That’s not possible. You know him—”
My little brother Bruno’s voice caused me to blink, then sit up. He said Daddy’s name.
“I can’t sleep,” Bru whined.
“It’s okay, son. Come here.”
The room quieted, no more voices.
“I’m going to put him back to bed,” Daddy continued. “You’ve ruined us both.”
“Have I?” Mommy said. “At least I tried. At least I admit I have a heart. I do love her, and it doesn’t matter what you say, or how you act. You love her too, Godfrey. I’ve seen you with her.”
“I’m putting our son to bed. Or have you forgotten what’s fact?”