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.“”

playfully. “How are

fell 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

you.

to me.

can put a lovely name to a lovely face. It’s nice to meet you too!” Jacqueline leaned in to hug but

touched, yet. You did

understanding, her smile reassuring. “I apologize for being too forward. I want you to be comfortable, so let

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

to help

You want to help?”

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

to offer support. “Violet is very knowledgeable about hair

bound her eyebrows mischievously and cackled, only to earn

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

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 of my tangles took away some burden it experienced from

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

whisper, memories of Raima, Odessa, and their

stop them?”

mother- daughter duo to continue working on my hair in my silence. Jackle whispered an apology in my ear thefore

and Jackie have a close relationship, working together harmoniously to comb 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.

no longer held

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 for

wept for what my family used to be.

their lives to protect and love me. They no longer 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 be the most important person to them. They cultivated her to be the best Beta Female, while simultaneously tossing me into the hounds.

wrapped my arms around Lyra 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

my heart, fueled by my sadness and anger. They taught me one thing; blood was not thicker than

hurts the most.

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 the food, now a tiny

bit uncomfortable.

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

over me…