6
WE ADAPT AND TELL OURSELVES ANYTHING IS NORMAL
Weeks had passed before Liza began to accept that she may have jumped into the fire a little too willingly. She clung to Mary’s cloak of protection as though her life depended on it – which technically, it probably did.
Mary had attitude to spare. It was soon obvious she had been on her best behaviour that first night and that under normal circumstances, she would lash out the moment reality began to close in too tightly. It was scary to behold, yet at the same time it ensured the girls had an easier ride than most.
To further soften the constant state of tension, gin helped. When that wasn’t enough, laudanum made up the difference until everything was bearable. They self-medicated until truth itself could be manipulated, to the extent t
