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I hesitated. “No? Then why did she attack you?”
Elif’s lips twisted into a kind of smile. She didn’t speak. We sat like that for a few moments. I was about to give up, then she spoke.
“I told her the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That you’re soft on her.”
I was startled by this.
Before I could respond, Elif went on, speaking with cold contempt. “You’re in love with her,
mate. I told her so. ‘He loves you,’ I said. ‘He loves you—Theo and Alicia sitting in a tree. Theo and Alicia K I S S I N G—’” Elif started laughing, a horrible shrieking laugh. I could picture the rest— Alicia goaded into a frenzy, spinning round, raising her paintbrush ... and plunging it into Elif’s eye.
“She’s a fucking nutter.” Elif sounded close to tears, anguished, exhausted. “She’s a psycho.” Looking at Elif’s bandaged wound, I couldn’t help but wonder if she was right.