Page 78 of Expressionate
I glance down at her, but her head is bowed and she’s looking at the ground. “Yeah,” I say, “sheis.”
“Thankyou.”
I pull on my cigarette, letting the smoke clog my pores and make me feel full. Full of smoke if I can’t be full of Love. “For what?” I exhale, releasing it all. Emptying myself until there’s nothingleft.
“For saving her,” Trish says. Her eyes turn to me as she shoves back the mass of blonde hair that falls over her shoulders. “I know.” My hand stills as I bring the cigarette back to my lips. “I know that she didn’t…fall asleep.” My hand lowers, and I look at Trisha. I mean, I really look at her for a change. Her skin is pale, still marred by the bruises. Dark, half-moons of exhaustion hang under her eyes, but she’s still pretty. This girl killed a man a few days ago and yet, she’s still got a spark. And she’s apparently not as oblivious as I thought she was. I’m not sure if I’m impressed or incrediblyirritated.
I hum deep in my throat, debating on what to say. “So,” I start, “what exactly do you think youknow?”
“I know that it wasn’t an accident. I know that Love has probably done things that she doesn’t want to admit to me. I know that my Mom hurther.”
“Hmmm.” I drop the cigarette to the ground, crushing it under the toe of my boot. “You know all that, and you didn’t think to keep her from your fuckingmother?”
To give the girl credit, she doesn’t flinch. Trisha turns her gaze back to me. “I should have,” she admits. “I know that now. Funny what almost dying does for you. I know better now, though. When my mom gets back, we’re going to her hotel and we’re going to have a long talk. It’s over. I love my sister more than I’m grateful to a woman who has done nothing but tortureher.”
Something springs to my mind as I glance around. “Speaking of the bitch, where is yourmother?”
“She’s—”
“Trisha,sweetheart!”
Both of our heads turn as a woman in black slacks and a white blouse exits the building. When she sees me, she scowls and hurries over. “Who is this?” she demands as she stops next toTrisha.
“Mom, this is Love’s boyfriend – Tax.” Trisha waves her hand at me and shoots me a look before frowning at her mother. “He was just in Love’s room with us, didn’t you notice him?” Something feels off, though. The moment Trisha let the word ‘boyfriend’ slip, the other woman’s facedarkened.
“Oh, no, I didn’t.” She waves her hand. “Well, I’ll have you know, young man, that visiting hours are over,” she snaps in mydirection.
“I’ve been informed.” I stare down at her, at the not-so-fine wrinkles along her neck, under and alongside her eyes, and on the backs of her hands. She holds her purse close as she moves. Even when she reaches for her daughter, she has that thing clutched in her grip. It’s not the purse that catches my attention, though. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least for a woman like this to assume I’m some sort of con, a criminal – a thief just waiting to take her little bag. No, it’s that even though she’s holding it close. It’s that her eyes keep darting to the hospital’s entrance. I lookover.
“Well, good,” she says quickly, ushering Trisha towards the parking lot. “We really must be going. Come along,dear.”
“Mom?” Trisha turns to the side, avoiding her mother’s touch. When the woman reaches for her again, I grab herwrist.
“I don’t think she wants you touching her,” Igrowl.
The older woman stares up at me in shock before snatching her wrist from my grip. “How dare you lay a hand on me,” she says before turning to Trisha. “Of course, leave it to your sister to have such vile friends. Now, come on, let’sgo.”
“Mom!” It’s Trisha this time who rips herself from her mother’s grip, “that fuckinghurts.”
Once again, the woman’s eyes dart to the hospital’s entrance. I step closer, crowding her against the building. “She’s hiding something,” Isay.
“W-what?” The woman looks to the side before up atme.
“What are you hiding?” Iask.
“Mom?” Trisha steps up alongside me, but she doesn’t attempt to help hermother.
“I don’t know what you’re talkingabout.”
I grab the woman’s throat, squeezing until she yelps and wheezes. “Where were you just now?” Idemand.
“I-I—”
“She said she had to go to the bathroom,” Trisha answers forher.
“How long was she gone?” Iask.
“Um…it was…” Trisha looks at her mother. “You were gone for a long time, what happened?” Trisha steps closer as her mother finally losesit.
