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“I need you here, Liz,” I croaked out. “I need you.” “You don’t need me, Hugh,” she replied sadly. “You want me, but you won’t always feel that way.”
“I’m not good, Hugh. I’m not the girl you think I am, and one of these days, you’ll figure that out and leave.”
“No, but he might.” “Mark?” “Maybe.” Her fingers twitched beneath mine. “Or maybe the monster will get you first, or the scary lady.”
Her eyes snapped open. “No, Hugh! Don’t!” Fearful, blue eyes locked on mine. “Don’t go anywhere near him.”
“Did Mark force you to have sex with him?” My body turned to stone, and I looked up at my sister with tears streaming down my cheeks. “Am I in trouble?” “She’s lying,” Mark snarled, pushing my sister so hard, she fell to the floor. “Tell her I never forced you, munchkin!” He grabbed my arm and forced me to stand. “Fucking tell her, you little cunt!”
“I’m broken,” he sobbed, trying to pull her body close to his. “I need help, baby, I’m sick.”
“She wanted it, I swear,” he tried to plead, pinning my sister down. “She was always jealous of us. What I have with you. She’s a fucking whore, baby. Your sister led me on. You have no idea what she’s capable of.” “She’s a child!” Caoimhe snarled, bucking her hips to knock him off her chest. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
There had been many occasions throughout the years when I had wished my own sister had loved me like Hugh loved him.
“He’s his brother,” I whispered, even though I knew there was no point. I could never make my boyfriend understand something I didn’t understand myself. I couldn’t explain why I wanted to peel the skin from my bones when I heard Gibsie’s name, but it was a very real, very physical reaction for me. One my mind assured me that I was right to feel.
“Yeah, Liz, you are.” “How can you know that?” “Because I’m going to make sure of it.”
Mark was steadfast in his assertion of innocence, while his parents were determined to defend him with unwavering resolve.
She blamed him for Caoimhe’s death as much as she blamed Mark. Maybe even more. I saw it in her eyes that day at the graveside when she fell to her knees in front of him.
“Me, too,” she replied, voice cracking. “I want Dad.”
Oh jesus christ
“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered, sinking onto my ass and wrapping my arms around her. “We’ll get through this.”
OWEEEEE
