““I walked back to the kitchen, each foot a lead weight. Delia stood there, holding a sponge and staring down at the linoleum. "Will carpet cleaner work even if it's not used on carpet?" she asked. "You should go," I told her. I looked down at the floor and pretended to be fascinated with the little blue dot pattern. Delia came closer to me, seeing the freak I truly was. With one finger, she traced an X over her chest. "I won't tell." One traitor tear slicked its way down my cheek; I scrubbed it away with a fist. "You should go,"I repeated, the last thing in the world that I wanted. "Okay." Delia agreed. But she didn't leave.””
