25

She just nodded and turned away, placing her guitar flat on the floor. Lily… I murmured, my heart aching as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
It’s nothing, she smiled at me, her eyes still misty.
That wasn’t nothing Lily, I frowned, reaching out for her.
I managed to brush my fingertips against hers before she pulled away and got up from the sofa. She walked over to the edge and leaned on the railing. Her blonde hair was blowing around her shoulders, and she was staring at the ground. You don’t have to do this, she whispered quietly, barely audible above the city sounds below.
Sighing, I got up from the sofa and walked over to her. Talk to me, I whispered, placing my hand over hers and releasing the breath I had been holding when she didn’t pull away. You seem to sing when you’re sad. Like in the park last time and now tonight. Are you sad Lily ?
No, she murmured, glancing up at me for a brief second. It’s just the ice rink…
Oh God, this is my fault ? I asked, horrified, taking a step back.
Noah, no ! She said wide eyed, grabbing my hand tighter to stop me from pulling away. It just bought back some memories. Painful ones.
Why didn’t you say something ? I whispered, mentally punching myself.
Are you kidding ? That was the best date you could have given me Noah, she smiled up at me. It reminded me of my mother.
Your mother ? I asked, surprised.
She nodded, dropping her hand from mine as she looked out over the city. When I was four years old, she took me ice skating for the first time. My mother was beautiful, long blonde hair and blue eyes, like the colour of the ocean, Lily smiled, gazing in to the distance with a faraway look in her eyes. That’s the last happy memory I have of her.
Her voice broke and she turned away, her shoulders beginning to shake. I didn’t say anything, just waited. After a minute or two she turned back around, having regained her composure. She died soon after that, in a car crash, she smiled sadly, the tears beginning to fall from her eyes once more. She was on her way to pick me up from school, it was my fault.
No, I whispered, shaking my head and stepping towards her. How could it be your fault ? You were four years old Lily.
She just shook her head and stepped away from me, refusing to meet my eye. My father blamed me. He was never the same after that. He was a mean drunk, she said, her voice hard and cold.
It was surprising, to see her seemingly switch off her emotions within a matter of seconds. But that was just a brief thought, as Lily’s last words ran through my mind. He was a mean drunk ? I asked, the anger coursing through me as I realized what that meant. What did he do to you Lily ?
After she died, I think he pretty much died with her, she said, finally looking up at me. And he took it out on me.
I watched as she lifted up her hoodie and t-shirt. She was wearing no bra and the underside of her left breast was visible, but my eyes were drawn to something else. Running horizontally along her left rib, was a jagged white scar, almost three inches long. White hot fury burned through me as I saw the scar. I couldn’t imagine anyone laying a hand on Lily. Clenching my fists, I stared at her. It was taking all of my willpower not to walk over and punch the nearest wall to rubble.
He did that to you ? I whispered angrily, my voice barely coming out.
She just nodded and lowered her shirt, not looking at me. When I was sixteen, I ran. I took the Harley and never looked back. I drove all the way to Indiana. My aunt Flo, my mum’s sister, she took me in without question. She had no idea what was going on, I never told her.
I just stood there, my anger barely under control. And suddenly it all clicked, why Lily had flinched when I had almost touched her there at the park. But Lily’s voice cut through my thoughts.
When she found out, she was going to press charges, Lily said, sounding emotionless. But she never got the chance. He died the month after I left. Drunk himself to death.
Shaking my head, I just stared at her. I didn’t know what to say, but I knew what I wanted to do. Striding over, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her in close. She resisted at first, trying to pull away, but I wouldn’t let her. I held on tight, refusing to let her go. After a second, she stopped fighting and pressed her face against my neck, sobbing quietly. Keeping my arms wrapped around her, I guided us over to the couch and sunk down, pulling Lily on to my lap. She kept sobbing, and I didn’t say a word.
And as I looked up at the stars, I vowed to make Lily forget ; to forget everything.
Noah :
Her crying had stopped a couple of minutes ago, but she still hadn’t said a word, or moved from my lap. And the truth was, I didn’t want her to. The cold breeze whipped by us, making me pull her in closer. She didn’t protest, she just buried her face in my shoulder. I stroked her back, feeling her tears soaking through my t-shirt. Resting my head on the top of hers, I looked out over the city.
But sitting there on the roof with Lily, it felt like we were on our own completely. As I closed my eyes and continued to rub her back, Lily’s breathing started to soften. She was falling asleep. Smiling, I hugged her close, wanting her to know that she was safe. But after a couple of minutes, the chill picked up and I could feel her shivering against me.
So reluctantly, I placed my arms under her and gently lifted her to the couch. She moaned softly, and curled up, trying to shield herself from the cold. I didn’t want to wake her, so it looked as if I would have to carry her down. Scratching my head, I stared down at the guitar on the floor and realized I couldn’t carry them both. The guitar would have to stay up on the roof for now.
I bent down and picked up the guitar by the handle, trying not to wake Lily. Stepping over to the far side of the couch, I saw that there was a space between the side of it and the corner wall so I placed the guitar there for now. I walked back over to Lily and saw her in the same position, still fast asleep on the couch.
The wind was whipping her hair up since she was lying on her side. Her eyelids were fluttering. She must have been dreaming about something, and I hoped with everything I had that she wasn’t dreaming about something bad. Sighing, I bent down and gently slipped my arms under her waist and legs. She made a soft sound, but didn’t wake up. I lifted her off the sofa slowly, bringing her close to my chest.
Come on gorgeous, I whispered.
And I smiled softly when she wrapped her arms around my neck, burying her face in my shoulder once more. But I realized there was no way I could open the door holding her like this, so I shifted slightly, causing Lily to wrap her legs around my hips. I could feel her body heat against me, and I pulled her to me even closer, savouring the feel of her body against mine.
With one last glance at the guitar poking up behind the sofa, I walked over to the roof door and gingerly reached for the handle, trying to not to drop Lily in the process. Managing to pull it open, I walked through and let it shut behind me. It made a slight bang, but Lily didn’t wake up. She must have been completely absorbed in her dream world. And I didn’t want to think about what she was dreaming, because whatever it was, it was causing her to squeeze me tightly, like she was afraid of something.
It’s okay honey, I murmured gently, stroking her back through her shirt. It’s okay…
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I rounded the corner and came to our apartments. I stood there for a minute, knowing I should take her back to her own place, but I just couldn’t do it. Lily belonged to me tonight. So, turning my back on Lily’s apartment, I opened my own and walked in with Lily still fast asleep against me.
The light was on in the living room, indicating that Dean was back from his night out. And since he was in the apartment, he had obviously been unsuccessful in getting a date for the night. Stepping back to bump the door shut, Dean suddenly leapt up from the sofa, a surprised look on his face, like he had just been woken up.
Dude ! He shouted loudly. What’s