Lisa saw the man reach out and touch the girl on the wrist where the satiny burn scar was not quite healed. It was quick, just like something she might have done to Kate in the back seat of the car when they were small and she was always so angry. It was mean, like that.
Mary gasped.
"She's awake now," Ez said. "Open your eyes, Mary. There's no hiding here."
Mary kept her eyes closed but her lip and chin trembled.
Lisa saw another burn scar, healed, in the hollow of the girl's white throat. A small, smooth circle. She looked up and saw Ez on the other side of Mary's bed, looking at her.
His mouth was set, his eyes black. The whole shape of his face seemed changed from the round, not too quick but nice guy face he had presented to her in the parking lot. He was someone else here, someone dangerous. Lisa bowed her head but did not take her hand from the pillow where she rested it after smoothing the girl's dirty hair. The danger was in looking too long, she thought. But she kept watching, through her lashes, through the hair that fell forward.
"We all love you here, Mary Rose," Ez said. "You are beloved, a beloved person." He had hooded his eyes, softened his mouth, changed yet again. He leaned toward the girl and whispered, "I love you." His voice was low and intimate.
Lisa felt her stomach lurch. Everything inside her felt like acid.
Mary opened her eyes.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Oh man, this guy is creepy. I love the very subtle way you accomplish this. The way the man touches the girl's scar, the way his face alters as Lisa watches it, the dialogue which shouldn't be creepy, but it. Really, really fabulous!
ReplyDelete