Under Her Skin

Chapter 22

Police Officer: What's going on with Lyssa?

Me: She's drinking her youth away.

Police Officer: And Sunny?

Me: Rotting. 

***

That morning, Lyssa poured whiskey over her ice cubes as she replied to emails on her phone. The TV went on. She twirled her fingers around the edge of the glass and licked it. Then she worked until Hiram came home.

"Honey," he said, stepping through the door. "I'm exhausted. Let's hug while you make us some real good dinner."

"I'm exhausted too." Lyssa turned only to find his hand tucked under the couch pillow, body laying flat on the sofa.

"Wash your hands."

The two ate dinner. When they finished, Lyssa tried to jump out the second-floor window.

"Lyssa, this can't continue," said Hiram on the bed in the upstairs suite.

"I've had it," she said. 'I can't take it anymore." She lowered her voice, even though Sunny was two full doors away. "I've lost pride. I used to be proud as a woman." Hiram shook his head.

"You're still proud. You've still got control." Everything was fine. Lyssa took care of the meetings. The venues. He took care of placing ads. They had plans. They were going to make it as business people.

Lyssa poured the last of the whiskey into her class and added cubes. The phone rang. It had been ringing all day and night. Lyssa groaned into her palms.

"Lyssa."

"I'll get it," she said.

***

Mrs. Lennie and her little red eyes gave Sunny the chills. She was standing at the front of the classroom whispering to the neighboring teacher. The majority of the class was occupied by friendly conversations with tablemates. Few seized the opportunity to take a nap. 

Sunny peeked at the teachers' warped faces, the seriousness of their expression arising a reasonable amount of suspicion. She looked up. They looked up, and not long after she was standing in the halls like a counterfeiter.

"What is this?" Mrs. Lennie threw two stabled together, MLA formatted essays into Sunny's chest. "You have a lot of explaining to do if you think I'm just going to sit here and let this happen."

"What?"

"I can understand if you copy math homework," she said. "But you can't go round copying essays word by word, thinkin' you'd be able to walk and sit in class unnoticed."

"What?

"Don't treat me like an idiot."

"I'm not! I have no idea what you're talking about. I think there's been a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding? There is no misunderstanding," she said, "I've been a teacher here all my life and I know a cheater when I see one. Do not challenge me on that one."

"I didn't copy anyone. These are my words. Mine." Mrs. Lennie crossed her arms and snatched the papers from her. "Oh, yeah? Then why did Selena came into my office this morning and tell me all about it."

"God damn. Don't listen to that bitch."

"Excuse me?"

"I didn't mean it like that."

"Selena has a name, and she was nice enough to tell me the truth. She said you're through a tough time at home. Your parents—"

"What has this got to do with my parents?"