Saving Noah

by Lucinda Berry

Noah wasn’t just guilty—we all were. And once you were dirty, you couldn’t get clean again. You were like a chewed piece of gum.

I never knew there was something wrong with me. There weren’t any clues. One day it just happened. It was like a switch went on and once it’d been turned on, I couldn’t turn it off no matter how hard I tried. And I really did try. I never wanted to hurt anyone. But I did, and now it’s my job to make sure I never do it again.

Denial was a powerful protective mechanism and I felt naked with mine stripped away.

He gave me a halfhearted smile. “You’re right. I’ve got something worse. At least when you have cancer people still love you.”