Page 117 of A Silence So Divine
He’s out the door before I can refuse.
Bending at the waist, I place my palms on my knees and suck in lungfuls of air. My hair has grown out enough to cling in sweaty ringlets along the nape of my neck, and I wipe at them in annoyance.
For an hour, we’ve been working on my self defense, grueling conditions be damned. If it weren’t for the impending fight, I’d think he’s looking for an excuse to throw me around.
The sun is persistent, beating down on us from high in the sky. Air as dry as the Earth, the drought has taken its toll. The worldappears bleached, everything washed out in a pale hue. The flesh on my arms and cheeks are tender; the promise of a sunburn. Cecil steps around me and I have to scowl into the sunlight to make out his face. He’s just as sweaty as I am, but his breaths are even and slow through his nose.
“Again. This time, try to knock me off my feet.”
My mouth tastes bitter and my saliva is thick, so I spit a wad at his feet.
“I need a break.”
Cecil shakes his head. “We’re almost finished.”
“I need water.”
“After we’re done.”
“No.” I push to my full height and take a step towards the house. Cecil is quick to side step, blocking my path.
“Can you stop being so stubborn for once in your life?”
I can’t help the snort that escapes. He angles his head, eyes narrow in a challenge.
“That’s funny, coming from you,”I sign back, an unfriendly smile on my face.
He rolls his eyes, and my skin prickles with irritation.
“Eden doesn’t complain this much.” He’s goading me, and I know it. But I dive right off the deep end of my pent up anger and land in the pool of confrontation.
Fuck it.
“That’s because you have her wrapped around your finger,” I accuse.
Cecil looks to the sky, pinching the bridge of his nose. His lips move as he mutters to himself, then he fixes me with an incredulous look.
“Really? That’s what you’re worried about?”
My nostrils flare. “Worried about my friend? Yes,”I respond with an emphatic nod.
A breeze carries through the tall weeds, cooling the damp skin on my face. I glance at the house and hope Eden isn’t peering through any of the windows.
“You honestly think that above everything else, I am the biggest threat to her?”
“Of course not.”
“Then let it go.”
“Someone has to protect her.”
“Oh?”Cecil laughs.“Is that person you?”
“Yes. You’ve done a shit job at it.”
“Have I?”He feigns hurt, lower lip prodding. “That’s interesting, considering you can’t hit a target, and you can’t throw a punch. But you’re right. You’re a real hero—”
No time to think of consequences, I charge my brother and knock him to the ground. The impact knocks the wind from my lungs, but it hardly phases me. Climbing on top of him while I’ve still got the upper hand, I pull a fist back, but he’s much faster than me. Legs swinging, he gathers enough momentum to roll us over until he’s above me.
