The Anatomy of a Parody Heart

coward

Dan won't let Enzo go home.

"You're bleeding," he says, "and hurt. At least let my mum have a look at you, before you go." He lowers his voice. "You'll only worry your family, Enzo. And my mum won't mind. She's a doctor. She can't mind."

Enzo sighs. He is sitting on Dan's couch, in Dan's living room.

His perfect couch. His perfect living room.

No creaks.

He sighs again. "Where is she?"

"Helping your dad."

"Is she - "

"No."

"You didn't know what I was going to say."

"Yes I did. Is my mum going to tell anyone? No."

"You don't know that."

"Yes I do. Just as I know that your dad won't tell anyone, either. Or Izzy."

"What makes you think that?"

"Telling is the coward's way out. Whatever your dad is, he's not a coward."

Enzo snorts. "Sure."

"He let Izzy stay with him, didn't he? He could've sent her back. He could've - God, I don't know - he could've...hurt her."

"But he never visited us. He never even called."

"Did you want him to?"

"No, but - "

"Exactly. Maybe he realised his mistake - realised too late - but then pride and guilt got in the way, and - "

"Are you defending him?"

Dan sighs. Rubs his hand into his hair. "No. I - no."

Enzo frowns at him.

"Well - maybe. Just a little. He was nice to me, when I was younger. He used to let me play in his garden. And he made me cookies. But - "

"Danny?"

A little girl is standing in the doorway. She has long blonde hair - white-blonde and curly - bright blue eyes.

"Danny?" she says again. Puts her thumb in her mouth.

Dan breathes out. "Hey, Artemis."

Artemis plonks herself down on the sofa between them. Looks at Enzo. "Who are you?"

Enzo opens his mouth, but Dan gets there first. "Artemis, this is my friend, Enzo. Enzo, this is Artemis, my little sister."

Enzo shoots him a sharp look.

Dan doesn't flinch.

"Not that little," Artemis says. She is still looking at Enzo.

"Not that little," Dan amends. "Is Mum still busy, Arty? Maybe you should go he - "

"Why are your eyes like that?" Artemis leans forward. Peers close into Enzo's face.

"Artemis!" Dan starts to pull her back, but Enzo stops him. Laughs.

"I don't mind."

"Yes you do. Artemis - "

"I like that one." Artemis points at Enzo's right eye. His blue eye. "It's pretty."

Enzo leans forward, too. "Well, I like both of your eyes. I think they're both pretty." He taps her left cheek, then her right. "Here. And here." 

She giggles. 

Sticks her thumb in her mouth again.

"Artemis - " Dan starts.