Let Me Explain You by Annie Liontas

Author:Annie Liontas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scribner

When Litza was twelve years old, Stavros came after her. She shoved her weight against the closed door, but he rammed through with his shoulder. He banged his head against the door frame, so intent he was to get in. He got in. The skin around his mouth was wet, expanding, as if it belonged to a whale. But then it got tight like a fist. She told herself not to be afraid, but this was her father and she knew his anger before she knew anything else about him.

Litza could not get away from his body. She went the only way she knew, which was down; her legs buckled beneath her, and she slid down the wall. He was shouting in her face, little flecks of spit. His mustache was like an angry black animal.

Where did Stavroula go? Deeper into the clothes hanging in their shared closet.

On Litza’s upper arm, his middle and ring fingers digging in like rodents. He said, “You want to tell everyone how bad a father you have? You think that low-life will save you?” The pink ribbon of his lip curled beneath his wet mustache. “Let me explain you something: I should have left you there, to live like an eel.”

She did not answer. He stood to full height.

“I save you. I save you.” He kicked at her foot, not too hard, and her shoe swung back. He kicked again, harder, and she pulled her leg close to her body. She reminded herself of a snail.

He turned to Stavroula. “Pack her bag. She goes today.”

It was out, finally, this thing they all knew he was capable of; he almost surprised himself to hear it. Litza, however, had been expecting this for a long time—since she got here. This thing that had been determined, since their return to this country, every hour of every day. This threat that made her and her sister into who they were, as different as they were.

If he would not fight for them, who would? If he could let them go, who would take them in?

But she did not think—had never thought—that he would make Stavroula do it.

Stavroula did not move. She was swallowing, again and again. There were many questions trying to get out, but it was also as if the questions were bees and Stavroula was protecting them both by keeping her mouth closed. Maybe Litza was not alone? Maybe Stavroula would be with her, sit with her? She would say to their father, She’s not going anywhere. We’re sisters, we go together. Together, they would get real loud, louder than him, because they were two and he was one.

Stavroula knew, didn’t she, why Litza had to be loyal to Dina? No, not even that—why she had to be loyal to herself? Stavroula pretended not to see her, but she did, actually, didn’t she? She saw who Litza was, deep down, because, really, could they be all that different?

Their father had gone quiet waiting on Stavroula. He propped himself against the wall with his left hand.

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