Undone by the Ex-Con

Undone by the Ex-Con (2018) Talia Hibbert

Just like that, her mind— and its thoughts— disappeared. She was only a body now. How beautiful that was.

After testing and noting down her blood sugar, Lizzie undressed and took her insulin. She’d had a discreet word with the hotel manager yesterday afternoon; now her little fridge held   a variety of small sandwiches, their crusts daintily removed. Lizzie set a timer, and when her fifteen minutes was up, she devoured seven of those ridiculous little sandwiches without pause.

“Did you tell anyone about this? Did you tell Mother?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Who, then?” She was quiet.

“Well. No-one, really.”

“Oh, Lizzie.” He sighed, and the depth of sadness she heard in that single exhalation brought her guilt rushing back. But without the added weight of such a huge secret, it was a lot easier to bear.

“I’m sorry,” she said again. “I should’ve told you. But I didn’t want to— you know, to get in the way of what you’re doing.”

“Get in the way?” he repeated, incredulous. “Lizzie. You’re my sister. I could be saving the planet from fucking aliens and it wouldn’t matter. As soon as you need me, that’s my priority. It’s not like I’m out here splitting the fucking atom.”

People deserve apologies. We don’t deserve forgiveness. It’s not an exchange.”

“Come on, Liz. You know you can tell me anything.”

She looked up, meeting his eyes. “And you can tell me anything. Do you know that?”  

He stared at her for a moment too long. The colour leached from his skin, leaving behind an ashy pallor, and she saw his jaw clench.

Publisher : Nixon House
Rating: 8.5/10

• Browse the archives:
  
• And Everything Nice » »
• « « Bad for the Boss