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When he reached over and cupped my cheek, I felt that familiar swell of excitement rise up inside of me, causing my heart to buck wildly. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay.” Nodding, I forced a small smile. “I just…I don’t like all the changes.”
Several seconds ticked by in companionable silence. He shifted closer and moved his hand from my cheek, draping his arm around my body instead. “Don’t worry, Liz.” He wrapped me up in the warmest, safest hug I’d ever felt. “You’ll always have me, too.”
IF IT KEPT HER SAFE
Hugh
DECEMBER 31, 1996
THE PARTY WAS IN FULL SWING DOWNSTAIRS, BUTLIZ WASN’T IN THE MOOD TO JOINin the celebrations, so I remained by her side the whole night. There would be a million more parties, but there would only ever be one Lizzie Young.
I knew she was doing better since coming home from hospital, but she wasn’t the same. There was something different about her. I didn’t understand what that something was or why it had happened, but I knew ithad.
Liz was always tired now, and she didn’t spin around in circles on the grass like she used to. Her eyes didn’t twinkle with mischief anymore, and she was a lot quieter these days. It took her longer than usual to answer questions or toss out a smart-ass comeback—something she had always been the queen of doing.
Now, grown-up things were happening to her body and there was nothing I could do to stop it from happening or make her feel better.
All I could do was stay.
So that’s what I did.
Because I knew deep down inside that I would sit with Lizzie Young for the rest of my life if it kept the sadness out of her eyes.
If it kept her safe.
“Hey, Hugh?” Liz said a little while later, when we were reading on her bed.
“Yeah, Liz.”
She pointed to the clock on her nightstand. “Happy New Year.”
I checked the time and saw it was indeed gone midnight, which meant one thing. Leaning in close, I pressed a kiss to her cheek, finding it a little more difficult to pull away this year. “Happy New Year, Liz.”
WAKE ME UP WHEN TOMORROW ENDS
Lizzie
JANUARY 5, 1997
“WHAT’S WRONG?” CRYING ON MY BED IN THE DARKNESS, IHOOKED MY ARMS AROUNDmy knees and rocked. “Why are you angry?”
“Because you got your fucking period,” the monster snarled, appearing from darkness in a cloud of smoke. “You’re nine!” His eyes were glowing red. “Why are you getting your fucking period when you’re nine?”
Wake up, Lizzie.
Wake yourself up.
Do it now!
“I’m sorry,” I cried, burying my face in my knees, too afraid to look at his sharp teeth. “I didn’t mean to.”
“It’s because you’re bad. God is punishing you for being a filthy, little whore.” Stalking toward me, he gripped my face between his hands and glared down at me. “You need to be punished for doing this to me.” He reached for his belt buckle with his other hand. “Tonight, you’re going to learn about how rough it can get, but first, I need you to take this.”
“What is it?” I strangled out, chest heaving, as I tried to remind myself that it was just a dream. I would wake up soon and everything would be better.
“Good girls take their medicine, or they get swollen bellies,” the monster hissed, forcing a small pill into the back of my throat. “You don’t want a swollen belly, do you?”
