Chapter 75: Scars and Ointment
Lyria's POV
I sighed.
"I-I am sorry," I told her. "A-and I do not think my explanation w-will be a good one."
Helen looked at me for a long moment.
Then she sighed too.
"'Tis the usual then," she said, shaking her head, her accent thick and rough. "Figures."
"Y-yes."
She studied me with those brown eyes that had always managed to see considerably more than I intended to show. Then she unfolded her arms and leaned back against the door.
"Ye should just ditch 'em," she said.
I blinked.
"Helen—"
"I mean it." Her voice was flat. "Ditch the whole lot of 'em. Come stay with me. Brianna — me girl — she loves ye. The three of us, we'll make do."
The thought of Brianna settled in my chest with a warmth I had not been expecting.
Eight years old and thoroughly devoted to bugs.
I smiled despite myself.
"Y-you know I c-cannot do that," I said.
"Why not?"
"B-because there is a reason I am still where I am."
Helen looked at me.
