Page 58 of No Safe Place
Callum carried on speaking, words tumbling out of him as Lily finally managed to pull her hand away.
‘I did that to her; I did it. I tried to stop the counting and I was trying to fight it and that’s why this all happened, isn’t it? Will you tell them, Lil?’
Lily hid the red marks from Erin’s view, tears in her eyes. She stood up and held Cal against her. Wrapped him up, head against her chest, and held on tightly. ‘You just need more sleep, Cal. You’re confused. A glass of water, maybe some food. Then sleep.’
Erin still looked concerned, hovering near the door.
Callum nodded in her arms. ‘Will you make them understand that I didn’t want to hurt her, but I must have?’
‘I’ll explain it to them, Cal. I’ll explain it to them.’
Chapter 34
Thursday | Afternoon
Callum
‘Come on,’ she said, pulling the covers back. ‘A little lie-down.’
He noticed some of his things on the bedside table and couldn’t remember putting them there.
‘That’s it, Cal. Get into the bed for me, come on.’
He put his hand out to the wall to steady himself.
He wanted to close his eyes. Shut them and be in darkness, be alone and be asleep.
‘Here we go.’
Lily gave a gentle tug on his hand.
He sat on the bed again. On the edge.
He wasn’t going to lie down.
There was a figure in the doorway, someone watching them, but he was too tired to look at who it was.
His breathing felt funny, and he counted.
One – in. Out.
Two – in. Out.
Three – in. Out.
‘Hey, hey.’ Lily kneeled in front of him, tried to pull his hands away from his face.
Four – in. Out.
Five – in. Out.
She let out a deep sigh and it took him out of the counting, just long enough. He lifted his head and met her gaze.
‘I’m sorry,’ he managed, one fat tear rolling down his cheek.
‘Oi,’ Lily said, with a smile. ‘We’ve got through worse than this, haven’t we?’
Had they?
