| Broken Butterflies- Aquilae Stilus 1999 Denial whispered across Miranda's mind, but she refused to voice it. "Are- are you sure?" she choked. Compressing her lips, Val nodded. "Unless I'm totally crazy." Something sour clenched in Miranda's throat. "Why didn't Mom and Dad say anything?" "They didn't want you to know." Val bowed her head and spoke though a spiderweb of hair. "They didn't think it would help for you to know." "They were right," Miranda admitted. She couldn't seem to control the muscles of her face. They trembled, further constricting her breath. Raising her eyes to Val's hidden features, she added, "But I would never have forgiven you if you hadn't told me." With a combination of a laugh and a sob, "You wouldn't have known there was anything to forgive. I shouldn't have told you." "Bull. You would never have told anyone if you believed that." "That's why I-" Val broke off and shook her head. "No one wanted to know. They were happier before." "But you should have told someone, anyone, a long time ago!" Anger came unbidden, swamping her. A lie. She wanted to tear the dream to pieces so she could wake refreshed and wash this filth from her memory, blow on the splintered doppelganger and send it hurtling away. But hearts didn't stab like this in dreams. "Why? So they could erase it? A little late for that." Bitterness tinged Val's tone. She was entitled, but it still stung Miranda's eyes. Frustrated tears came at last. Miranda fumed, wiping at her face with vicious strokes. "You could have made him stop. Somehow. Something-" "Look, it already happened, okay? It's over. It stopped years ago. I just couldn't hold it inside anymore. I'm sorry I told you- I knew you wouldn't understand," Val snapped, a crackle of fragile wings crumbling. Miranda gasped for air, forcing her chest to expand. It felt paralyzed. Something in her didn't want to breathe anymore. "I feel like throwing up." "Feel free," Val mumbled. "No wonder you hate going there on holidays." A laugh fought to release. Hysteria wasn't what Val needed right now. Miranda quelled it. Val pushed back her hair, reaching out and touching Miranda's shoulders. "I have to ask you something," she said, searching. "He never... did anything... to you, did he?" Miranda shook her head. "No." "Really?" Patent relief. The mauled butterfly stirred. Shaky breath. Inhale... exhale. No matter what. "Yeah, really." "Thank God." Val reached out and wrapped her arms around Miranda's shoulders. "Good." Miranda squeezed back, marveling that it took this moment to heal the breach between them. Perhaps not forever- in sane daylight this madness would melt like spun sugar, leaving only a sticky taste in the throat. "I'm sorry," Miranda whispered. "I'm sorry I wasn't there." "We were just kids. You couldn't have done anything." "I still wish I could have been there." Miranda cradled the shattered wings in her hands, her tears breathing hope. "You're here now. That's enough." |