Next of Kin

Chapter 2

"Lia?" I heard my mother's scream through the ringing in my ears, "What's happened? Are you hurt?" I flinched as her hands touched my bare arms, cold against the warm droplets of blood running down them. I couldn't move. I didn't know how I made it home, but as soon as I did, all the energy seeped out of me. My knees buckled and I slipped to the ground; gripping onto my mother like she was the only thing holding me to this reality. I let out a sob and pulled my exposed skin closer to her warmth.

"I killed him," The words disappeared into my mothers woollen jumper. She raised my chin and I choked on my words, "He's dead. I killed him."

"Who, Lia? Who did this to you?"

I pressed my tears harder into her side. "It's ok darling, it'll be ok." With a kiss to my head, I felt her pull away and lift me to my feet, guiding me through our narrow hallway. The bathroom looked different, white and pristine, the opposite of me. My mother helped me out of what clothes remained. A gush of water streamed and memories of bath time as a child flashed in my mind, filled with laughter that was noticeably absent now. The water burnt my skin. It felt good. Blood melted all around me, a mix of his and mine. I thought about how I hadn't texted Mel. What would I tell her? "Got home safe xx" The thought made me laugh. My mother stopped cleaning my arm, she probably thought I was going crazy; maybe I was.

My mother didn't press me for answers. Instead, she left me to drown in the covers of a bed that no longer gave me comfort. Sleep wouldn't come, so I scrolled through photos from the party, moments before I became a murderer. I listened to my mothers voice echoing through the house. She was arguing on the phone but I couldn't make out the words. Maybe it was the police. I would go to jail. That's what I deserved, right? I killed a man, before there was any evidence to call it self defence.

I don't know how long I'd been asleep before my mum shook me awake, "Pack your bags. We're leaving in the morning."

"Where are we going? What time is it?" But she had already disappeared. I couldn't work up the energy to argue, I could barely even move, all I knew was that I wanted to be anywhere but here.