Should I do something, or give her space?
Why don’t people come with instruction manuals?
Daria might know…Should I—
All the color drained out of Daria’s face.
Did she just see what I saw?
Does she know what to do? Should I ask her? This is a big moment for Daria, Vex, and Gemma.
But Fiona—there’s something wrong. I know it.
I move over to Daria’s side and whisper, “We need to talk now.”
She nods.
Without caring that it’s rude, I lead her to the library, closing the door behind us. “What’s wrong with Fiona?”
Daria’s hands start moving faster than my brain can process, using signs that I don’t know yet.
“I don’t understand you.” But I can feel your agitation.
She reaches into her purse and pulls out her assistive device. Daria points to a table, goes to sit down, and starts typing at lightning speed.“Fiona’s going to hurt herself.”
“WHAT?”
“She does this when her emotions get out of control. It’s going to be bad, though…after what happened today. I think I should call her therapist. It’s usually better if she does. But I’m afraid this time it’s going to be bad.”
Hurt herself…bad. The basket…
No! I run out of the library straight to Fiona’s room, not bothering to knock.
She’s not in here.
The shower is running.
Maybe we’re wrong. Maybe she just wanted to wash the blood and filth of the day off.
The shower…what better place to hurt yourself if you want to hide the signs from the world? All the blood would run down the drain. Then you could wrap yourself up in that basket of horror and walk out like nothing happened.
Is she in there hurting herself?
Would she tell me if I knocked and asked?
Skip polite.
My woman is hurting herself. I close my eyes and open the bathroom door.
“Max.” Her voice wobbles. “What are you doing in here?”
What does it look like I’m doing in here? Should I open my eyes? “Are you hurting yourself?”
“Max, I’m naked.”
Like I’m not very well aware of that fact. My eyes stay firmly shut. But I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable… A towel will have to do. There’s one two feet to the left on the heated rack. I grab it. “Are you hurting yourself?”
“Max, please.”
