Page 123 of Liam

They’re all staying at Mia’s dad’s house while she’s here.

When I show up to the house, they’re usually all in the living room, watching TV. I join them, but I don’t talk.

Because Addie doesn’t talk.

She saves everything she has to say for our text messages. And at night—when we’re in bed together. We whisper the things we want to say, so Dayna and Roman don’t know she’s talking. She doesn’t want them to know she’s speaking to me, but not them. Not because she wants to hide things from them, butbecause she’s not ready to speak about the things they want her to open up about. And with me—she feels like she can talk about anything else.

And she can.

And I’ll listen to every word.

Roman called me after the first couple of nights, asked if she ever talked to me, and as much as it hurt me to betray Addie’s trust, I told him the truth. Yes, she speaks, but never about anything important. He seemed relieved, told me he was grateful she was speaking at all.

Right before we lock ourselves in the bedroom, Dayna hands me a plate of food. Not for me, but for Addie. Apparently, she doesn’t eat when I’m not around, so I practically force her to when I am.

I realize how ridiculous it is—to be doing things in private like we are—and I can’t even imagine how hard it must be for Dayna and Roman, to think I have some magic spell that they don’t.

I don’t.

I just do whatever works for Addie.

For now.

But I know as much as anyone that this can’t go on forever.

It’s not healthy.

It’s… childish almost—getting under the covers and whispering to each other, as if we’re divulging secrets no one else knows, but… I’m with Roman on this one—I’m just glad she’s speaking at all.

With every day that passes, I can see the change in her, and I hope it’s time, plus therapy, that’s making the difference and not her “climbing to the peak” just so she can jump when she gets to the top.

I fall asleep every night with her in my arms, and it’s more than enough for me. And, since she’s the one who keeps asking me to come back, I assume it’s more than enough for her, too.

Addie

Hey

Liam

Hey back

Addie

I know it’s early, but can you come over now? Have dinner with us?

Addie

The only sounds at the kitchen table come from the silverware as it scrapes along the plates. Well, everyone else’s plates. I haven’t even touched my fork.

It’s been like this for over a week now, and I don’t like it. I don’t like the silence I’ve forced onto the people I care about the most, and it’s not as if Iwantedit to be like this. I don’t wantthisto be the way I deal with my emotions. I don’twanteveryone to walk on eggshells around me, like they are right now. Even Liam seems uncomfortable. To be fair, I didn’t tell Dayna and Roman I invited him here, because I don’ttellDayna and Roman anything. Not even through texts. They’re hurting. I can tell that they are, but… up until earlier today, I didn’t know how to fix it. How to reassure them I would be okay.

Up until earlier today… I honestly didn’t know if I would be.

“I had a breakthrough at therapy today.”

The scraping stops. All eyes turn to me. Roman swallows his food, lowers his fork to his plate.

It’s the first time anyone’s heard my full voice since everything came to light.

---