Nola’s voice was different. It was deeper and a bit louder. Not childlike anymore. She’d never used these notes before. A brand new song she was singing.
Josephine noticed it right away and her heart beat slower. She stood fast and solid behind her but the need wasn’t as urgent.
Nola got taller all of the sudden. She was straight. It made her even more beautiful. Some kinda shine, Josephine thought, some kinda bright shine you got there, Nolita.
Pray to me, she repeated.
He was puzzled but didn’t let his confusion stop him from clapping his shaking flippers together in a catholic clam. He even managed a catechism bow of the head.
What did you pray for? That I’d spare your remaining days? That I wouldn’t make the slitting and slice hurt too much? What?
He wanted to answer but knew there wasn’t a word invented that would do the trick, that would change this new woman’s mind.
She wasn’t Nolita the Damaged anymore. She was Nola. Nola the Courageous, Nola the Soft Strong Lovely, Nola.......the Woman.
And this Monster was going to have a new name, too.
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