Healing Fave

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

  " you keep lying to me" errita subtly commented as she dabbed the cotton wool over my busted lip. I avoided her gaze and looked over to the side of the window. My saliva tasted salty and sweat dripped down the sides of my palms.

My heart raced as I internally struggled to put my words together and I could feel the tears stinging my eyes all over again and I inhaled and returned back to her probing gaze. She raise a brow,  clearly expecting an answer.

  An answer I knew I wasn't going to be giving her anytime soon. " It was an accident" I murmured and feigned nonchalancy. Her gaze didn't leave mine for a long moment and then it softened as she placed a band aid over my injury " you know that I'm always here" she assured me softly. 

" I know" I sighed and held her hands over mine struggling to smile. I winced. Even smiling was painful, lying to her was painful as well but it was something I knew I had to do.   
 
She was back to her usually bubbly self as we laughed over plates of home made cookies with her parents playfully butting in jokes in the middle of our conversation.

We laughed even more when John came running down, smiling at us with his Icecream smeared face as elton chased after him down the stairs. Our faces morphed in mock disgust as we watched Errita's parents exchange loud kisses over the counter.

" Ugh!!! Mum, dad!!!!! We're standing over here" john yelled over the stairs and I laughed. Aching, burning, longing for something I knew I was never going to have. I ignored the burning sensation in my chest and breathed again, hiding my shaking hands over the table. So suddenly I wasn't laughing anymore. I watched with dread as I quickly glanced at the time. Dad would be home any second .

  I internally cringed at the word and shivered with disgust.  Dad.
And then it dawned on me that I would have to get home before he got back, I couldn't afford leaving all alone with mum.

  I abruptly stood up, hanging my bag over my shoulders. Everyone's gaze shifted to me with a worried look on thier faces. " I have to go " I shyly murmured. Fumbling with my fingers. 

No" are you sure you wouldn't like to have that checked Darling? " Errita's mum pointed to the band aid covered injury on my lip. 
" It's fine Mrs Paul" I struggled to smile again trying so hard not to wince so that I would be able to convince her. She looked worried.
I hastily glanced at my watch again, filled with a sickening frenzy to make it back home in time. I fought to calm my breathing and hide my shaking hands. I also ignored Errita's concerning gaze.

" Thanks for having me Mrs Paul" I politely murmured. 
" Stop it please, we're family" Mr Paul placed a warm arm over my shoulder. family. I cringed again. I didn't even know what family was anymore. With a goodbye wave, I quickly headed out the door, hurrying back home with dread clinging to the walls of my stomach.