Marie and I stare at each other for a while, until she rips away from Sebastian and runs towards me.
I stand up from Heath’s lap and wrap my arms around myself, my stomach tying up into a rope of knots. It twists and turns as anxiety starts to grow.
She comes to a halt and there’s only a couple of feet distance between us. Too little yet too much.
“Hi,” she says, her eyes filled with tears.
“Hi,” I reply, my voice cracking.
No words come to me and from the looks of it she’s experiencing the same.
Her lower lip wobbles and she rubs her arms.
I fidget with my fingers, my anxiety kicking up.
Sebastian comes up and stands beside her but I don’t look at him. I can’t. All my attention is fixed on Marie who wants to say all and nothing at the same time.
Heath stands next to me. And just being this close to him I find strength to face Marie.
“I… wanted to tell you—” I start.
“Can I hug you?” She sobs.
Without thinking, I cross the distance between us and wrap my arms around her in a vice grip. Hers quickly wrap me and immediately I’m all enveloped in her. All that she is—good, light, comfort and warmth. Being this close to her is like sitting under the sun and letting its hot beams melt away your fears, sadness and loneliness.
Marie starts crying and a second later I join her.
I hear Sebastian and Heath saying words to us but I barely hear a thing. All I’m focused on is the girl who’s my best friend, another person I’ve bothered and worried.
The last thing I wanted was to be a burden and it’s exactly what I’ve become.
A mess. A complete, utter, hideous mess.
___________________
“Are you okay?Please tell me you’re okay?” Marie asks, holding my hand. She hasn’t let go of it in the past hour or so.
I give her a smile. “I’m okay.”
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
I remember the slight discomfort I feel on the side of my head I hit when Dad slapped me and the cheek that hurts a little.
I shake my head. “I’m fine, Marie.”
Her eyes scan mine, searching for answers. She looks unconvinced but I don’t have it in me to tell her the truth. It’ll worry her. Besides, the pain is little. I can tolerate it.
“I don’t believe you, Hope. You can lie all you want, but now I see things differently.”
“I…I’m not completely lying. I am fine, except for a little pain in my head and cheek.” I cave in, seeing her puppy eyes. There’s no way you can refuse her when she looks at you with those sad, big hazel eyes.
“Where does your head hurt and which cheek?” she asks.
I take her other hand and put it over the side of my head. Her fingers move over the surface, her touch gentle, careful not to hurt me in any way which I find endearing. She finds a little bump and I wince. She stops.
“It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt that bad.”
“You promise?”
