Page 9 of We're All Liars
CADE
Her screams get louder as I get closer. Topher is already there, pulling Warren back and shouting at him. Morgan is clinging to some girl who looks like she’s all but passed out. But it’s the fear on Morgan’s face that I keep a watch on.
I’m going towards her when Ava helps her steady the girl, then lowers to the floor, propping her up halfway against the wall.
Morgan’s gut-wrenching scream pierces my core. I feel her desperation and terror as she screeches, “He was going to rape her. He was going to kill her.”
Ava attempts to calm Morgan, but it doesn’t help. Morgan crumbles to the ground, her hands over her ears as she screams over and over to shut up, to not touch her. And I know. She’s reliving that night.
Dropping to my knees, I’m in front of her. Every time I touch her, she jerks away or fights even more. Seeing her like this is killing me. In this moment, I’d do anything to make it stop. And I keep trying until I finally place my palms against her cheeks, my fingers gripping her tightly as I yell for her to look at me. Her eyes remain closed for what feels like an eternity until her terrified eyes finally meet mine. Her hands are still over her ears, but I keep repeating, “You’re safe. I got you. I’m here, Morgan. Look at me. Focus on me. I’m here. Forever.” I make a circular motion on her cheek with my index finger.
She doesn’t move or even blink for a solid minute until her hands drop from her ears and reach forward. Her arms hook around my neck, and her shaky voice says, “He was going to rape her.”
It doesn’t take but a second to put everything together what was about to happen with Warren and the passed-out girl. “She’s safe, Morgan.” And I don’t have to guess on another fact. Morgan saw her in trouble and helped her. “You saved her. She’s safe. You’re both safe.”
There’s no way I can let her go. But thankfully, I don’t have to. Topher is nose to nose with Warren, the commotion obviously drawing the attention of a police officer who steps between the two of them.
Topher continues yelling.
Ava tries to wake up the girl as a few others approach to help.
But it’s Morgan’s body trembling that hits me the hardest. I release her just long enough to wrap an arm under her knees and put one behind her back as I scoop her up off the floor. She doesn’t resist. Her arms remain latched around my neck, her face tucked against my neck as I carry her away from the chaos.
It’s the moment I know, I’d break myself into a million pieces if I could just give her one sliver of myself to repair everything that is broken inside her, including what I damaged all those years ago when I vanished on her. Because I can’t do it again. Even after she continues to hurt me, I will stick around for more. Pain I can live with. But living without her isn’t a possibility.
10
CADE
There’s a light tapping on the bedroom door. I move my arm from around Morgan and slide off the bed. She’s hardly spoken a word since she refused to go to the hospital and agreed to come back to Neil’s house with me. And when I open the door, I expect to see him. But it’s Ava.
She peeks past me to where Morgan is lying, still in her dress. “I just wanted to check on her and bring this.” She passes me a bottle of water.
“Thanks. And she’s about the same. How’s Emma? Did she get checked out?”
“Yeah. I stayed at the hospital with her until her parents arrived. They kept thanking me, but I told them it wasn’t me that helped their daughter. They wanted me to tell Morgan that they are so grateful to her.” Ava looks back at Morgan. “Do you think she’s going to be all right?”
I nod. It might not be tonight. But she will be. I’ll make sure of it.
Ava shoots another concerned glance Morgan’s way before she tells me, “Let me know if y’all need anything.”
Once she’s out of sight, I close the door and move to the side of the bed that Morgan is facing. I notice her eyes are open, so I stoop down and get eye level with her, holding up the water bottle. “Thirsty?” She shakes her head. “Are you sure?” Another head shake.
I place the water on the nightstand. I can’t take the silence much longer. I need her to bitch me out or get pissed for bothering her. Reaching up, I stroke my palm over her cheek. “Talk to me, please, Morgan.”
“About what?” she asks, her tone way too calm.
“About what happened. If you won’t go to the hospital or find a professional to talk to, you have to find someone. And since I’m the only one here. Guess you’re stuck chatting with me.” I give her a grin, hoping to lighten the mood, but she just watches me.
“Talking won’t change anything.” She sounds defeated and tired, but it doesn’t escape my notice that she tilts her head slightly where her face is firmer against my hand as her eyes shut. “I just want to sleep.”
There’s no way I can let her off the hook that easy, but something tells me tonight isn’t the night to push her. “Let me help you take off your dress and get more comfortable.”
Without refusing, she sits up as I move behind her and start unfastening her dress. The only way to describe her movement is zombie-like—from the way she’s emptily staring to the limpness in her posture.
Once she’s out of her dress, I grab one of my T-shirts and pass it to her. When she doesn’t reach for it, I pull it over her head as she finally meets my eyes. In them is something unrecognizable and painful. Maybe good news will help. “Emma is okay. Her parents wanted to thank you for stepping in.”
There’s a little confusion on her face before she says, “I didn’t even know her name.”