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.“”

rolled her eyes playfully.

into sadness. “I mean, Nurse Mei, fed this morning, and it’s not so bad. At least the liquid food and water stayed in my stomach this time. But I’m still in pain.” My hand reached to the back of my head where my wound was. Pain pulsated like a dull throb, the lesion ever so present. I then turned to Jackie with a gentle smile, exposing my teeth. “My name

you.

to me.

meet you too!” Jacqueline leaned in to hug but I cringed and jumped away from her, shuffling to the end of my

to be touched, yet. You did nothing wrong…

too forward. I want

expected her to be offended, but she took what I said with grace. It’s true, I didn’t want to be touched by anyone. Lyra made me feel safe and secure, which was why I didn’t flinch away from her touches, Jackie had an overall amazing vibe and vibrant personality, but

Chapter

where I trust her. Jackie had shown me more kindness and excitementtin five minutes than anyone else has in years. My hund unconsciously went to my hair again

want me to help with

You want to help?”

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 rid of

at Lyra for reassurance. The woman smiled, squeezing my shoulder to offer support. “Violet is very knowledgeable about hair

and cackled, only to

comforting without effort. Detangling my hair was a challenging

relaxed as their magic fingers 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 strand of hair that was pulled out

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

pack liked to hack at my hair whenever they felt like it,” explained in asty whisper, memories of Raima, Odessa, and their friends running at

Mom stop them?” Jackie

me. I looked an my lap, allowing the mother- daughter duo to continue working on my hair in my silence. Jackle whispered an apology in my ear

our the limits of this bird nest. The sensations awaken distant memories of when I was young, memorie I thought were long forgotten. 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 loving touches did not fade. I still remember how tender she

the most because I no longer held love for my

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

what my family used to be.

loved me, and they showed it every time they discarded me like trash. They tore my heart out and danced all over it. Raina was and always would

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 my

The hate for my family festered in my heart, fueled by my sadness and anger. They taught me one thing; blood was not thicker than water.

hurts the

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. Nava was inserting my lunch down the feeding tube along with water through a series of medical syringes. My stomach rose at

bit uncomfortable.

unexpected crying fit. “I’m sorry, I

over me…