Broken (Edited edition)

Therapist

I don't know how, but I've slept the entire night.  I have Mark's arm still around me, and he's fast asleep.  He's drooling on the pillow behind my head, and he's snoring softly.  I clutch onto his arm as the minutes go by, and roll around in his arms like I did last night.  I feel childish being so scare, sleeping in his arms.  It reminds me of my Dad, when I was scared of the thunder.  He would let me crawl into bed when it was really bad out, and would hug me the entire night.  I feel safer here, between Mark's arms.  He's so warm, so strong.  I feel like I'm in the safest place here.

Several minutes pass, and I hear Mark yawn.  He looks down at me, and I hug him tightly around the waist."  Lyca, we have to get out of bed today.  We have to start a new day, put the past behind us."  He says, and I look up at him.  I then look down at his stomach again."  I'm not letting you out of my sight today."  He says, and kisses the top of my head.  He slowly drags himself out of bed first, then helps me out of bed.  It doesn't even bother me if he watches me undress now, so I changed my pants in front of him.  I pull on fresh jeans, and he smiles softly at me.

I leave his room, and wait for him to change.  A memory of Todd's dead face flies through my head, and I shut my eyes tightly.  I take in a deep breathe, and go into my room.  I take off my shirt, and grab an over sized hoodie.  I get some shoes on as well, and walk out of my room.  I walk downstairs, and see the other two.  Danny's on the couch, and Barry's in on one of the chairs.  Mark comes down a few minutes later, and he stands right next to me."  Hey!"  He shouts, and the boys shoot up in their pretend beds."  Come on, Lyca and I need to go somewhere.  I can't drive, so I need one of you guys to drive us."  He says, and Danny rubs his eyes."  Yeah sure, I can drive you."  Danny says, and goes into the kitchen.  Mark follows him, and I hear them whispering."  So, how are you doing Ms. Lyca?"  Barry asks as he puts his glasses on."  I'm....doing okay.  I'm pulling through at least."  I say, and he smiles."  That's good, that's really good Lyca."  He says, and I smile."  Do you have a nickname for me?"  I ask, trying to change the subject.

Barry looks up in the air for a moment, then back down at me."  I think I like your name a lot, but if I guess I kind of see you as a Cupcake.  I know Arin has you as 'Muffin', but I think you're more of a Cupcake."  He says, and I start laughing."  You can call me that if you want."  I say.  He shrugs, and gives me a small smile.  Mark and Danny come back into the living room, and Danny gives me a smile.  It's a fake smile, but I don't say anything."  Hey, you ready to go Angel?"  He asks, and I nod.  I follow the three of them, and hold onto Mark's hand as we take the elevator down.

We get into the car, and Danny drives us to our destination.  The car ride is silent, nothing but us breathing and the engine running.  I'm looking out the window, at the people walking on the streets.  They have no idea what has happened, what I've done.  They just continue their day like nothing has happened."  It's probable in the newspapers if it hasn't been on TV yet.  I can already see the Title." Abused Girl Kills Abusive Brother."  I roll my eyes, thinking on how stupid that sounds.  Not the Title, but how stupid on how I would be in the newspaper."  Oh my God."  I hear Danny say, and look over at him.  He's driving, and we're at a stop light.  He's looking over to the left, and I look over at Mark's window.  There's a woman holding a newspaper, and my face is on the front page.  I cover my mouth, and grab a paper bag that just happened to be there.  I start getting sick, and Mark rubs my back.

The light turns green, and Danny starts driving away."  Oh God, they know.  They all know."  I say, and Mark holds me close to him.  I bend the top of the bag down, to trap the smell and waste in it."  It's not like they'll recognize you."  Mark says, and I hid my face into his arm."  I don't want this, people know what happened!"  I say, and he hushes me.  He hugs me tightly, and kisses my head."  It's okay."  He says, and hugs me the entire ride to our destination.  Turns out our destination was the CPSA building.  I don't want to get out of the car, I'm so terrified right now.  Mark picks me up, and carries me out of the car.  I hold him around his neck, and put my head on his shoulder.  Tears are welding up in my eyes, and I feel so scared.  I feel hot tears roll down my face, and take in sharp breathes."  Shh, it's okay."  Mark says, and keeps his arms around me.