AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I think you’ve spent your whole life in a state of fear, and it’s your reaction to that feeling, that fear, that made you so reckless.”
“I was never frightened of him.”
“Only of what he might turn you into?”
“Don’t go there.”
“Your father hurt you.”
“You already know this.”
“And you’re still here.”
“Yeah, I fucking am.”
“You came about as close to death as a person does.”
“I’m not a victim.”
“He knew just how to get inside of your head.”
“No.”
“No, your father didn’t know how to get inside of your head?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“But your mother did.”
“I’m done talking now.”
116
Unanswered Messages
AOIFE
Aoife: Hey, stud. I know you don’t have your phone with you, and you’ll probably never read these messages, but I’m having a really hard day, and I need to feel close to you. Texting you helps. Reading your old messages, too. It hurts so bad, Joe. Being apart from you. I really hope you’re kicking ass right now. Because I need you home, okay?
Aoife: So, Rebecca called me a whale at school today!!! Like she can talk. Bitch made a whale noise while I was changing for P.E. Can you believe the nerve of her? Anyways, it wasn’t all bad because Casey tripped her up on the basketball court afterward as penance and then Alec rubbed his sweaty armpit in her face. Not going to lie, though, the whale jokes are getting to me.
Aoife: Okay, it’s official. I am turning into a whale.
Aoife: I’m still a ten in your eyes, right?
Aoife: So, I was in SuperValu doing the big shop after school with Mam, and guess who was there? Shannon. With her boyfriend!!! Hate to tell you, Joe, but they were lingering in the condom aisle. But I guess that’s good, huh? At least they’re being safe. She didn’t see me, and I didn’t approach her. I just…couldn’t, you know? It’s too hard. But she’s after changing a LOT. She was smiling like the cat that got the cream, and her cheeks were rosy, not that deathly pale color, and she had this calmness about her. Like she was content. It was pretty epic to see.
Aoife: So…I’m fairly sure Casey had a three-way with Al and Mack. They’re all denying it, but something definitely happened between the three of them in Podge’s hay shed last weekend.
Aoife: I felt the baby kick for the first time today.
117
The Girl from the Wall
JOEY
With my heart frozen in my chest, I folded my arms behind my head and stared up at the ceiling, with nothing but my thoughts to keep me company.
