Page 10 of Scars of Silk

A tear drops from her eyelashes.

“Shit, Abi, don’t bloody cry. I’m sorry, okay? I know I was an idiot. It was an accident.”

“Fuck off, Dan. Don’t insult me. Now you can come in, but you are an uncle to Charlotte and Roger. If you are going to hurt them, take yourself away from them, or I’ll turn you away. Don’t you dare ever threaten to leave us again.”

For a moment I have nothing to say. I swallow hard, trying to get my mouth to work. “I’m sorry.” My words are tight.

“Come here.” She pulls me in, grabbing my hand. I step up over the threshold and her little arms wrap around my waist. She’s tiny, barely coming up to my chest, but she packs a powerful punch as I’ve discovered over the years. She shudders as she squeezes me tight. After a moment she pushes me away. “You arsehole. Now, get in here and get talking.”

“Abs. There isn’t anything to talk about.”

She gives me the no shit stare she’s perfected over the years. For one aching moment I wish we could rewind time. Wish it could be the three of us again; me, her, and Faith, the sun on our skin, the wind blowing our hair as we stand on the beach and scream with the seagulls. Wish we could laugh like we used to, open and free with nothing to hide.

Three best friends tied together on the streets of Brighton’s back streets.

We can’t though. It’s all gone.

Faith has gone and got herself knocked up. Abi is married, with children to be responsible for. I think back to Faith and how I slammed away from her the other day. The slam of her front door echoes in my head. I shouldn’t have said those things.

I turn and walk before her into the house. It’s nice; neat and clean with Roger’s toys scattered all over. By the dining room table offset on one side of the room is a large princess castle. “Wow, that’s impressive.”

“Yeah, Faith sent it for Charlotte. She’s got one at her house, but Charlotte was going mental for having one here too. She said she wanted to live with Aunty Faith because she had the best toys.”

I roll my eyes. “She has the money to buy the best toys.”

Abi shakes her head at me. “It’s got nothing to do with money. Don’t be a dick. She’s just being generous as she always has. So, what have you been doing with yourself since you skulked back here and didn’t tell anyone?”

“Not much.” I sit down on the sofa stretching my legs out. “Just resting.”

“Dan, what were you thinking? How could you do that?”

I try not to sigh. “Which bit?”

“How did you get the bruises?”

“I got into a fight. It’s no big deal.” I shrug. It’s not a lie. It was a fight, a big one, with paying spectators and bouncers on the door.

“And the overdose?”

Jeez, she’s so direct. There is literally no messing with her.

“Abs, it was a mistake. I was sore, I took some pills and drank too much.”

“You took enough pills to go into a coma.”

“I hurt a lot.” My lips crimp into a line. “It was a mistake. Can we just move on?”

“You want me to move on from the fact that one of my best friends nearly died?”

“Yes. Any chance?”

“No. None.” She scowls at me, but then softens a little. “Do you want a coffee? Have you eaten? You’re looking thin.”

“Thin? I’m a prime specimen, you know that.”

“Whatever you tell yourself.” She smiles, and the tension wrapped around us like a too tight chain unravels a little.

“Thanks for cleaning the house. I really appreciate it. I’m sorry I didn’t come by earlier to say thanks.”