Sneak Peeks of Afflicted
“Taking to you would be like admitting I need help,” she admitted quietly. She wrapped her arms around herself and nervously drummed her fingers against her arms.
“I think we both agree that you do need help.” Lucy nodded at him but did nothing to indicate that she was now willing to cooperate.
“But it’s more than that,” she explained anxiously, “It would be like admitting I’m deserving of help, when I feel like anything but.” Robertson nodded, then gave her a sad smile.
“You don’t think you deserve anything much, do you?” he asked quietly. He leaned back in his chair and tentatively awaited her answer
“Ok take your poker face off for a minute,” said Lucy firmly, “this is me you’re talking to, what’s going on?” Daniel sighed and put a hand to his head.
“I need to tell you something,” he said suddenly. Lucy nodded wondering what secret Daniel was about to share with her. He looked extremely nervous and restless.
“You know you can tell me anything. I want you to tell me everything.” She looked at him beseechingly, eager to hear his secret, wondering what it could be.
“There’s a reason why I felt drawn to you,” said Daniel, “why I see you.” Lucy’s mouth dropped open in surprise; surely his secret wasn’t about her?
“Sit down Lucy,” she says kindly, “We have some news.” I look between them both in wonder, then I smile. Maybe the news is that Tom and mom are going to get married, they’ve been living together for almost a month now so it seems only right that it should be the next step. Besides, I want them to get married because then I know that Tom is going to stick around. Once I am seated on the sofa, I look up at mom. Tom gets up off the sofa and goes to stand next to her. They are both smiling so I know that it’s good news; I wonder if I will be a bridesmaid?
“I’m pregnant,” says my mom in excitement, but I just stare at her confused.
“What?” I ask. Mom and Tom just continue to smile at me.
“You’re going to have a brother or sister,” continues mom, “and it’s going to be lovely.” This time my mouth drops open; this isn’t how it’s supposed to go, they are not even married. How can they have a baby? I shiver as I remember mom giving me the talk on where babies come from; I gagged the entire time.
“LIAR!” shouted Lucy, placing her hands on her hips. Daniel sighed in exasperation and raised his.
“For goodness sake Lucy!” he retorted “Do you want me to hate you? Tell you that you’re worth nothing because of one mistake you made?” To his utter disbelief, Lucy nodded, and Daniel’s face fell.
“Yes!! That’s exactly what I want!!” snapped Lucy earnestly, “I want to not have to look at you and feel a glimmer of hope. I want to not feel better about myself when I’m around you just because you make me laugh and challenge me at the same time. I want you to put me in my place and tell me that I should hate myself for what I did.” Daniel appeared genuinely terrified and desperately sad at Lucy’s admission.
“You’re not going to get that from me,” he said quietly, looking at the floor.
“No, it was definitely the knife,” answered Stephen anxiously, “It went straight through his chest and hit a vital artery above his heart. He was dead within a minute; two at the most.” Lucy felt the cheese sandwich she’d had threaten to leave her stomach, as a wave of guilt driven nausea hit her. It had been a rash action she had taken, but that action had led to a man losing his life in the space of a very short amount of time.
“Almost as if the person who stabbed him was aiming for it?” questioned Jacobson. Elijah jumped to his feet extremely quickly.
“Objection,” he stated calmly, “that’s argumentative!” The judge nodded at Elijah and looked sternly at Jacobson.
“I’m inclined to agree with Mr James; objection sustained,” she said, “Prosecutor, please refrain from drawing your own conclusion without a factual basis.” Jacobson did not look the slightest bit embarrassed by his error. He smiled sheepishly, as he held up his hands in surrender.
“Yes, your honour,” he said sweetly, “Sorry, I forgot myself.” Lucy rolled her eyes and leaned closer to Elijah.
“Kiss arse!” she whispered.
