Page 180 of Brighter Together

He shifts onto his side.

“You’ve barely said anything since we got back. How are you doing?”

I stare at the ceiling.

Am I okay?

My brother is in police custody.

I have just given a formal statement describing years of violence and coercion.

There will be consequences.

Phone calls.

Questions.

Possibly my parents turning up.

And for the first time in my life, I have done something that makes it impossible to put everything neatly back where it was.

“I don’t know.”

Saying it aloud is strangely relieving.

Tommy props his head on one hand.

His other rests lightly over my stomach.

“Fair enough.”

I turn towards him.

“You’re not going to tell me I did the right thing?”

“I think you did.”

He traces a small circle through the fabric of my top.

“But you’re the one who has to live with everything that comes next. You’re allowed to feel however you feel about it.”

My throat tightens.

“That was annoyingly sensible.”

“I have moments.”

I manage a smile.

He watches me for a few seconds.

Then he says, “I think we should take a holiday.”

I stare at him.

“A holiday.”

“Yep.”