Cary followed me up the stairs.
"I'm sorry you had to tell your father a lie,
Cary," I told him at my door.
"It was only half a lie," he said. "You were on
the way home." He smiled.
"Good night and thanks again," I said. I leaned
over and kissed him on the cheek. He blushed. I
flashed the best smile I could and retreated to my
room. He was still standing in the hallway when I
closed the door. I heard him pull down his attic steps
and go upstairs.
&nb
sp; I changed and dressed for bed. I hated the sight
of myself in the mirror and wondered if those
shadows under my eyes would be gone by morning.
Nothing felt as good as the mattress and covers. My
eyelids were like two steel doors slamming shut. The
last thing I remembered was wishing Cary hadn't lied
for me. It all starts with little half lies and then it
grows until, until.. . you become like Mommy and
lose track of the difference.
It won't happen to me, I vowed.
It won't.
The chant worked like a lullaby. The next thing
I knew, I was fluttering my eyelids at the flood of
sunlight penetrating the window curtains and nudging me to start another day.
14
A Helpless Creature
.
Unfortunately, Cary wasn't right about Adam