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Lilah

“It’s about control,” said Lilah. It was scary to see someone like Opal so vulnerable. She took her hand and squeezed it, as Marina had squeezed hers after her own confession. “He didn’t hit me, but he didn’t need to. He controlled me in other ways.”

“When he left, I started working out. I wanted to make myself strong. I wanted to be the most powerful person in the room.”

“Is that why you bullied me for acting like a rabbit?”

“No. Maybe. Yes. I don’t like weak people. Because...they remind me of myself. God, that’s fucking pathetic. What an idiot.”

“Neither one of us is weak,” said Lilah. “You held on to that secret for years. And then when you had the chance to stop him from victimizing other women, you did. A weak person couldn’t do that.”

“And rabbits don’t kill the bad guys.”

Lilah looked thoughtful. “Well, I think maybe they do. They put up a good fight, at least, in Watership Down . Anyway, he is dead. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

“I should have flushed his ring down the toilet.”

“That’s not really good for the plumbing. I’ll help you get rid of it, if you want. I’ll help you do whatever you want to do.”

“Why are you being so nice to me?” Opal asked.

“Because I like you a lot better now.”

It was about then that Marina stepped through the front door, lugging several huge bags, and looking quite cheerful. She stopped dead at the sight of them sitting on the floor next to the cupboard.

“Why did you get out all the minks?” she asked, and then immediately: “Oh, good, you found the hacksaw.”