What We Deserve

Part 18: Two Truths and a Lie

Lauren went all out.

I mean, she removed my NG tube.

She cut every single thing into super small bites and sat with me on the bed while I ate- just so I didn't choke.

Which happened...

Twice.

Damn beignets...so good but bloody deadly.

Max ended up leaving us after a bit.

I could tell he was frustrated.

I don't blame him in the slightest.

I am too.

But I had missed Lauren.

And I wasn't sure Max truly understood what I meant.

I mean...it wasn't exactly I love you, now was it.

"So...can I make a request?" She asks and I pick up her phone- waiting type my answer. "Can you please never do that again."

"What? Choke on a donut?" I grin and she looks at me so seriously that it honestly makes my insides twist painfully.

"Step in front of a loaded gun."

Shit.

"Helen, it wasn't just Max who lost his damn mind when you did it...when you ended up in here." She fiddles with her fork that is stuck in the side of a classic New York Style Cheesecake. "I...When I heard...what happened...I just... I don't know. I felt like everything inside me—died."

"Lauren, I promise you- I won't do that again. I'm sorry I hurt you like that."

"Can we play a game?"

"Can we control our ADHD for five seconds?"

"Haha, no. Two truths and a lie. You've played before right?" I nod. "Okay, I'll go first. 1.) When I was ten, I liked to dress up as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. 2.) I once kicked someone's ass so hard, I put a whole in the ass of their pants. 3.) I'm so stuffed that I could throw up but not until I finish this cheese cake." Lauren states and I think hard about it.

"1 is the lie."

"Wow. You really think I could kick a hole in someone's pants?"

"Well I've seen you engorge yourself on food until you're in a coma. And you hate the Wizard of Oz. So yes. 1 is the lie."

"Damn...haha...shit- I thought I got you on that one. Okay- you're turn  Holes." I glare and her and she snickers. "Okay...so not a good nickname. Got it."

I think for a long while and can't decide what I should tell her as the truth and what should be a lie.

"Okay—
1.) I was nearly strangled to death by Mo several times while he abused and raped me up until the night he died.
2.) I was making out with Max when you walked in and that's why he was angry and left.
3.) I stepped in front of a loaded gun twice for two reasons- one to finally just show him and two because I have been severely depressed for years and just wanted it to end without having to do it myself.

I needed to tell someone and honestly- Lauren felt like the best person.

I hand her the phone and she has a smile on her face until she reads them.

And reads them again.

And again.

And again.

"Helen...Helen are you..." She reads them over and over again and with each scan of her eyeballs, her face becomes more contorted and pained. "They're...they're all lies...right. You're cheating. They're lies. All of them...cheater...."