Trezza Azzopardi

“Do you remember the rabbits? I ask, keeping her. A short, thick-sounding No. Luca used to be a good liar.
You must! There were dozens. He'd buy them as presents-
I don't remember, she says, turning away, Understand me, Dolores, I don't remember One Single Thing.
The rain and the cage and Luca standing in the garden, denying everything. The heaving in me comes out as a shout.
Well I do! You and Rose, locking me in there. Shame on you, Luca!
She faces me. In the twilight, her own sickness shines like a jewel. Luca closes her eyes; she's tired of not remembering.
Dol, we were letting you out, she says.”
― Trezza Azzopardi, The Hiding Place

“A scream.
Not from Rose, who has covered her mouth. Not from Fran, smothered beneath the weight of him. The sound stops Frankie. He crawls over his daughter's body to hide in the shadow of the wall. Fran staggers away. A moment passes before he follows her inside, ducking low as if the sky will fall and crush him. Rose is reminded of a chimpanzee at the circus.
In the kitchen, Frankie is rinsing the buckle under the cold tap. He doesn't look up, but he senses Rose at the door. He runs his finger along the brass tongue.
Fetch Dolores to me, is all he will say.
But she won't. She won't let him have her.”
― Trezza Azzopardi, The Hiding Place