Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 16 – The Grief

“Each of us has his own rhythm of suffering“-Roland Barthes

Lyra came over and gently lifted my

Mer fingers wazed at my feeding tube as gentle as a feather, face

contorting into one of pain. “Did this hurt?”

I nodded. “Yeah. But, after a while, it isn’t so bad. Dr. Nava says I might have this in me for a while since I

can’t eat.”

“That must suck.” Jackie cringed, her hand on her forehead in her dramatics. “If I couldn’t have my supply of Lead Omega Cleo’s special buffalo wings, I’d wither away to nothing!”

“Didn’t you just have a plate full of wings last night?”

“Yes. It’s been forever!” She groaned,

Lyra chuckled to herself. “I can’t wait for you to find your mate. Having one might humble you.”

“Well, wherever she is, she’ll just have to deal with the fact that I’m a dramatic bit–err, gal.” I tick my head to the side, my eyes questioning her. “I’m a lesbian.”

“Ah.”

“If there was anyone you would want to have at your side, it’s Jacqueline,” Lyra explained to me. It fed Jackie’s ego because her smile grew wider if that was even possible. “In fact, once you’re well enough, she’ll give you a

tour of our land.”

“Please. You won’t admit that I’m the best tour guide ever. The kids love me!”

“Most of them do, anyway.” Lyra took my hands into hers. “Besides our resident energetic wolf-”

“I prefer, ‘resident weirdo.“”

her eyes playfully. “How are you feeling?”

my stomach this time. But I’m still in pain.” My hand reached to the back of my head

you.

to me.

to a lovely face. It’s nice to meet you too!” Jacqueline leaned in to hug but I cringed and jumped away from her, shuffling

be touched, yet. You did nothing wrong…

want you to be comfortable, so let me know if

by anyone. Lyra made me feel safe and secure, which was

Chapter

in years. My hund unconsciously went to my hair again and I cringed at th heavy matting I feel under my fingers. Jackie stand up and leaned over to look

want me to

want

with madliant happiness. “Our hair is our crown, and we must treat it like royalty, Judging by your curls, they are a little doser than my tight ones. Type 4A hair from the looks of it. M mom, the Beta Female, could help too the knows all about hair, and I have a couple of products from our store that could get

reassurance. The woman smiled, squeezing my shoulder to offer support. “Violet is very knowledgeable about hair and skillful with her hands.”

bound her eyebrows mischievously and cackled, only to earn a smack on the back of the

take long for Violet Seals, the Beta Female, to come in with a bag full of sweet–smelling products and combs. Every product had scents ranging from tropical but to cherry candy. I had no one to touch my hair besides Nurse Mei, so I was incredibly nervous. But both Wales and Jacqueline made my experience comforting without effort. Detangling my hair was a challenging dear because my hair hadn’t had a decent wash in years. They lathered my hair with oils and creams and comited through all the loose and tight tangles careful to not yank my hair. Their hands were gentle against my win, taking great care to not irritate the wound on my head, especially since it was still raw. Detangling the

took great care of me. There was a growing pile of hair next to my legs of shedded and damaged hair that had fallen out because of past mughness, but I didn’t mind. Each

curls are beautiful, baby girl,” Violet spoke in awe, massaging cities into my scalp. “Your hair is a little lopsided, weirdly cut.

they felt like it,” explained in asty whisper, memories of Raima, Odessa, and their friends running at me with sharp scissors attacking the

didn’t your Mom stop them?”

silent, reluctant to talk about the woman who abandoned me. I looked an my lap, allowing the mother- daughter duo to continue working on my hair in my silence.

Memories of my mother and the love she gave me many waghught qui to my heart and chest. Deep underneath all the pain she caused; the memories of her

no longer. And yet, that hurt the most because I no longer held love for

hands covered my face as I cried out for my mother and for what my mother used to be. The inner child that I thought died came out at full force, screaming and wailing

what my family

tore my heart out and danced all over it. Raina was and always would be the most important person to them. They cultivated her to be the

with all the strength I could muster, silently begging to know why my family turned their backs on me. Her hands rubbed. smooth circles around my back, and soon, Violet and Jackie engulfed me in their arms. I was dead center in the middle of a group hug, fully aware that the entire hospital could hear

tube down my throat. The hate for my family festered in my heart, fueled by my sadness and anger. They taught me one thing; blood was

hurts the

Nava. Violet and Jackie left a while ago after they successfully detangled and washed my hair. They braided my hair in two large cornrows that barely touched my shoulders. Nurse Mei redressed my head wound with clean gauze, discarding the bloody one into a hazardous waste bin. Dr.

bit uncomfortable.

from my unexpected crying fit. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know what

over me…