The Mute and the Liar (89 page)

“
Yeah.
But
it's
all
sort
of...
worked
out
now.
I'm
living
with
my
aunt,
going
to
school.
I've
got
friends
now.
It
feels
normal.
Do
you
feel
that
way
too?
”

“
Yeah.
I've
got
a
job.
Got
my
own
place.
Things
are
better
now.
Oh,
Alicia,
you
know
when
 
you
 
stopped
 
speaking?
 
Was
 
that
 
because
 
of
what
happened?
”

“
Yes.
But
there
were
other
reasons
as
well.
The
police
kept
asking
me
questions.
I
felt
like
everyone
was
watching
me.
People
didn’t
believe
me
when
I
told
them
what
really
happened.
Another
reason
was
that
I
just
didn’t
want
to.
”

“
Makes
sense.
”

“
And you started lying
nonstop
because…
”

“
I
don’t
know.
You can make life better
when you
lie.
I’m
a
genius. I’m an
astronaut. I’m going out with a Victoria Secret model. See? When you have nothing to talk about, lying just seems like the better option. You know what, Alicia? I missed you.
”

“
I
missed you
too.
”
I
reply.
And it’s
true.

“
Hey,
look
what
I
bought
today.
”
He
fishes
in
his
bag
for
a
bag
of
salad,
exactly
the same as
the
one
he stole
from
my fridge
all those
months
ago.

“
I
hate
vegetables.
Do
you
know
what,
I
just
hate
anything
that’s
supposed
to
be
good
for
you.
Blood
tests,
dentists,
cheese.
What
even
is
cheese?
How
do
they
put
holes
in
it?
But
you
know
what,
this
stuff
is
kind
of
growing
on
me,
”
he
grins
and
knocks
the
bag
repeatedly
against
my
arm.
“
Have
it,
I
got
it
for
you.
I
figured
I
owe
you
a
bag,
since,
you
know,
I
stole
yours.
”

“
I
bet
you
can’t
put
ten
of
those
leaf
things
in
your
mouth
at
once,
”
I
challenge
him.

“
Is
this
challenge
just
to
shut
me
up?
”
he
asks.
I
nod
my
head
and
grin.
“
Fine.
Then
challenge
accepted.
”

He
shoves
his
hand in
the
bag,
we both laugh, and the
world
carries
on.