An Impossible Secret by J. B. Leigh

his mother called, but they were already through the door.
     
    “You weren't at uni,” Kerry said.
    He stared at her. How could this beautiful person also be blonde punk?
    “Why are you looking at me like that?” She suddenly felt uncomfortable under his gaze. “What's wrong? You're scaring me.”
    “I'm sorry.” He hesitated.
    “Sorry about what? I don't know what you mean.”
    “I don't think I can do this—I can't do 'us'.”
    “Why? What's happened?  Brice, talk to me,” she begged.
    “I came to your house yesterday.”
    “When? When did you come? I didn't see you.”
    “I met Lizzie.”
     
    The colour drained from Kerry's face, and she shuffled from one foot to the other. For a moment, Brice thought she was going to collapse.
    “I'm sorry.” Kerry said, and then ran down the driveway—headed straight for the road.
    Brice glanced to his right. A bus was making its way up the road.
    “Kerry, stop!” He raced after her. “Stop!”
    He managed to grab her arm.
    “Let me go!” she screamed and tried to pull away until she saw the bus flash by.
    “We have to talk about this,” Brice said, as he released his grip.
    “There's nothing to talk about,” she sobbed. “I understand. It's okay,”
    Kerry checked the road, and walked away. Brice could feel his heart breaking, but he couldn't move. He didn't know what to do—he didn't have the words.
     
    Back in the house, he ignored his mother's questions, and went straight to his bedroom. What happened now? Was he meant to forget Kerry? How could he? The look on her face, when he'd mentioned Lizzie, would haunt him forever. It had been a look of surprise—shock even. It was obvious she hadn't known what Lizzie had done or said. And yet, Kerry was Lizzie. He couldn't begin to imagine what that might feel like. To have another person living in your mind—a person whose actions you couldn't control. His feelings for Kerry hadn't changed, but how could they have a relationship? The more he thought about it, the more impossible it seemed.

 
    Chapter 52
     
     
     
    Kerry couldn't recall her journey, but somehow she found herself back home.
    “Are you okay?” her mum said.
    Kerry didn't answer.
    “Talk to me.”
    “There's nothing to talk about.”
    “Everything will be okay. You'll see.”
    “How?” Kerry snapped. “How can everything ever be okay while Lizzie's here?”
     
    “If Brice is the right one, he'll understand.” Her mum had followed her into the bedroom.
    “How can he? How could anyone? No one is going to love me while Lizzie's around to poison everything. I'm an idiot for thinking it could ever be any different.”
    “She's been away for such a long time,” her mother said.
    “She? Why can't you call her by her name?”
    “Lizzie.” Kerry's mum had never found it easy to use her name.
    “So what are you saying? You thought she'd gone? She'll never go. You don't get it do you? After all this time—you still don't get it. Lizzie is me. I'm Lizzie. She'll be here as long as I am. There's only one way to get rid of her.”
    Their eyes met. They'd had this same conversation before, but not for several years.
    “Don't ever talk like that.” There were tears in her mum's eyes.
    “It's the truth. Lizzie is never going to leave me alone.”
    “What did Brice say?”
    “What do you think? What could he say? He doesn't want to be with a crazy bitch who damages his car, and makes threatening phone calls.”
    “That wasn't you.”
    “It doesn't matter now. It's over.”
    “Is that what he said?”
    “As good as.”
    “He might see things differently when he's had time to think.”
    “He won't. Anyway, I'm not going back to uni. You were right. I should never have thought I could handle it.”
    “No. I wasn't right. I was dead wrong. You were right—it's where you should be. You can't lock yourself away for the rest of your life.”
    “I should be locked away.”
    “Don't ever say that!”
    “Why not? It's the truth. It's