Ch. 10
"What the hell?" Sally hissed as she read the messages flashing across the computer screen.
I rose from my chair. "What is it?" I read the message. 'Damn! Sally lost a lot of weight! I bet she's anorexic! Way to go, Howie! Dating peeps with mental disorders-so much for your high diploma.' "Bitch," I said aloud.
Sally massaged her temples. "What in the hell am I suppose to do to please people?"
"You don't have to do anything. Just be content with who you are and let it slide."
Howie turned away from the stove. "He's right, Sal, I don't think you're anorexic and if you were I'd still adore you."
"Glad to know someone does," she sighed.
Placed my hand on the mouse guiding the arrow to the exit. "Just get off this stupid thing and forget about it." I glanced at her sad face. "Um.....why don't we discuss your book while Howie makes dinner?"
She smiled. "Sure. Any questions?"
I turned to page 32 reading the passage carefully:
'All of my life I had only one dream. Revenge. That was my dream. To make everyone pay for the pain the brought me. The pain that remained with me everyday of my life.
Boys laughed at innonence, girls giggled at my reflection, my mother ignored me and my father snarled upon my entire existing. I wanted a chance to express the same feelings upon someone else. They deserved. They had taken my happiness. Now it was my turn to take theirs.'
I breathed deeply. "Did you really go through that?"
"Well, yeah, some of it," she explained. "My mom never ignored me and girls stopped making fun of me by the time I entered juinor high."
"What about your boyfriends and your father?"
"I had one boyfriend that made nasty comments about my breasts. He really wanted to go all the way and I said no. He kinda' rubbed it in my face. And my father -well, he just let me be in life. He never offered advice for me. And when I turned 17 he left. And that's the end of it."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry. You had nothing to do with it and I'm fine now. Don't worry about it. Did I answer your question?"
I nodded slowly. Realization found me. This girl was Howie's soulmate, I believed it wholeheartedly. But if they intended to fall in love- he'd have to help her deal with her pain.