Watery Graves Read Online Free PDF

The world was closing in. A girl was forced to have sex and everyone was gossiping about it, including the journalists in the papers. Her life had become entertainment. When she wasn’t mulling that over, she was stuck on thoughts of Maya being sick. Emmy knew it was bad for her mother to consider going into town with her.
    Sebastian shoved the pen back into Emmy’s hand. “Write something.”
    “Remember that thing about the girl in the town paper?” she said.
    “What thing?”
    “You know the rape. Remember? It happened to her. And with everyone writing about it and talking about it and making up their minds about what kind of person she is. It’s just like they do with us.”
    “Do you actually know what rape is Emmy?”
    “Of course I do.” Then to prove it she said. “It’s the crime of having sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent.”
    He smirked. “You just looked that up didn’t you.”
    “Ah – no. You can just tell by reading the story.”
    He reached for the dictionary and started flicking through the pages. She snatched it off him and stuffed it under her research books.
    Sebastian shrugged.
    He gave in too easily to her and she hated it.
    “I can’t stop thinking about her,” Emmy continued. “Everyone is talking , making up their own minds about things. Everybody knows. Everyone would be looking at her. Watching every move she makes.”
    “Emmy, if someone’s been raped, I think the people who did it should be the ones to worry about it being in the papers, not the girl. And besides, you know what Kristian says, keep your mind on your own life . ”
    “I don’t want to read papers anymore.”
    “Yeah sure.” Sebastian grinned. “Do some work.”
    “I really don’t.”
    “Maybe, that’s a good idea. If it stirs you up like this.”
    “So maybe we should both stop looking through the news.”
    “There’s no ‘we’ in this. I like seeing what’s happening out in the world.”
    *
    The lamps set a warm glow to their sitting room. Emmy and Ingrid relaxed in their armchairs, reading, stretching their legs out on a shared ottoman. On the surface, everything was just as it was supposed to be. The hush of night gave space for sounds that would go unnoticed in the day. Tiny paws tapped across the tin roof. Bullfrogs and crickets joined in a rise and fall of its own symphony. Water lapped at the river’s edge, joining in with a smooth lilting beat. It set an air of peace.
    Emmy loved the feel of the old paper, her finger tips running over the print as she fell into the last pages of Little Women . The book was ancient. While part of the spine was torn and the once dusk pink cover had turned muddy brown, she loved the feel of the book and the way it fell open on her lap.
    In the chair across from her, Ingrid sighed and snapped her book shut. She lifted her feet, sat cross -legged and closed her eyes. Her hands fluttered down onto her knees.
    Emmy marked her place . “Mum?”
    “Hmm.”
    “What exactly scares you about going to the doctor?”
    Ingrid’s eyelids fluttered. “I don’t like going down to the village. You know that. People talk. Doctors pry. They take tests. Everyone sees the results. Oh I don’t know why I’m forcing Maya to go really. It’ll make things worse. We’re probably better off not knowing.”
    “I’ve never seen you fight with Maya…ever.”
    Ingrid opened her eyes . “Yep, I don’t want to fight about it. Kristian should take her to the doctor. He’s her partner. He should step up and make her go.”
    “If it’s what Maya needs…”
    “I’m worried we left it too late this time.”
    “Too late for what?”
    “For Maya. Haven’t you noticed? Her arms are bone thin. Her cheeks are sallow. Her belly is swollen.”
    With a sharp intake of breath, Emmy’s eyes shone . “She’s pregnant.”
    Ingrid shook her head, “I touched her stomach. It’s hard like rock.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “She’s sick. We haven’t made