Everything I Never Told You

The thought that flashed through her mind wasn’t How did I miss it? but What else have you been hiding?

But James, still thinking of Marilyn’s mother, hears something else.

thoughts pinging the closed windows like a trapped bee.

“Some of the equipment in the shop would be difficult for you to use,” he told her. “And to be honest, Miss Walker, having a girl like you in the classroom would be very distracting to the boys in the class.” He meant it as a compliment, she knew. But she also knew that it wasn’t.

As if she might shiver to pieces. She wanted to wrap her arms tight around her sister’s body, to hold her together, but she knew Lydia would only push her away.

No details to catch in the crevices of her mind.

They cluster at the table, afraid to meet each other’s eyes, staring at the wood grain of the tabletop as if it’s a giant fingerprint, or a map locating what they seek.

Her grand plan had lasted nine weeks. Everything she had dreamed for herself faded away, like fine mist on a breeze. She could not remember now why she thought it had all been possible.

understand her completely, at last.