She heard a persistent ringing in her head as if it was her cheek the bullet grazed on its way to Gema's head. Her fingers intertwined with Mark's on their own volition. Was she still in the safe house? Were her feet still tethered to this planet?
She couldn't make out words coming in Mark's deep, soothing voice. Why was he garbling, sputtering out a muffled sound that never reached her brain?
Underwater. She was underwater again. Her hands flailed miserably in slow motion, slashing the chlorinated water because she had to move upwards. Why did she swim alone again? Billy-no-mate's behaviour. Oh yeah, because no one liked to be around her, didn't they?
No friend, no friend, failed to communicate, the awkward girl picked last by the man.
So unlike my mother, the hissing twat said. You'd fail in everything that you do.
