The color drained from his face.
“But it was an accident.”
“Jesus, Lucy.”
“I got a little carried away.”
“What happened?”
“That’s all. I just kind of zoned out while I was doing it, and then I couldn’t stop the bleeding and got scared I would pass out.”
“So you didn’t want to die?”
“No. Well, maybe for fleeting moments here and there I did, but not really.”
“So what happened?”
“My Dad took me to the hospital.”
Aiden shook his head and stared straight ahead.
“But he doesn’t know what really happened so you can never mention it.”
“What do you mean he doesn’t know?”
“I told him it happened hopping a barbed wire fence. Actually, that’s what I’ve told everyone who has seen it since.”
“And he believed you?”
“I don’t think he really did, but he wasn’t equipped at the time to consider the alternative.”
“When?”
“Junior year. Remember I missed a week of school around Thanksgiving?”
“You told me you were taking care of your Dad.”
“I was,” I said. “Only he was sort of taking care of me, too.”
“I wish I’d known.”
“No you don’t. It would’ve freaked you out like it did me. Plus, it was an accident.”
“Still.”
“Don’t mention it to anyone, okay?”
“I would never.”
“Thanks.”
“Lucy?”
“Yeah.”
“Promise me you’ll never do anything like that again.”
“It was a long time ago. You don’t need to worry about-”