—Why should I get used to something that’s nasty? I don’t get it.

—I’ll stop smoking if you become my friend again.

—Hush, you crazy.

—It takes one to know one.

—Fuck you, bitch. Dallas got up to push her a little.

—You know I’d never fight you, Hush said. —You and your dirty skirt.

Dallas’s new white denim skirt was now filthy from sitting on the bench.

—Look at this, Dallas said. They both checked out the streaks of dirt around Dallas’s bottom. They didn’t notice the two men who’d driven up in a van and parked by their bench. They were still looking at Dallas’s skirt, contemplating whether the streaks were permanent or could be bleached out, when a sweaty, unshaven man grabbed Dallas from behind. She felt the cold metal against her neck; his clammy hands on her arms; his chest against her back; she saw his hair locked in gel, slicked back.

—Run, Hush! Dallas screamed. She went past fear altogether. She couldn’t feel her body. She was ready to sacrifice her life for Hush; there was no point in both of them dying. She was going to be brave like she was sure her father was brave when the man put the knife to his neck. She didn’t look down at her feet, just straight ahead and right at Hush, who said, —Let her go, take me.

Dallas watched Hush rocking from one foot to another as if she had to go to the bathroom. She was trying hard to be the strong one, waving her hands around and keeping a safe distance, looking around to see if anyone was coming. But the guy pressed the gun harder against Dallas’s neck, behind her earlobe, digging into the dent there, the same place her father was stabbed. Her poor father; was that how he felt, his last few minutes in a dark car, with a stranger’s smell as a last memory? Her father also died by a park. Her dear old father, Dallas thought, watching the weeping willow blow against them as her heart beat faster, popping out of her chest. Dallas didn’t feel the tears come down her face. Only the metal on her skin, the fat, sweaty man against her back, up close, as if he was contemplating taking her with him. She should’ve never gone out to meet Hush. Where were the cops when she needed them? Her mother would never let her hang outside again. She wanted to see his face, but if she looked, he’d get angry. She hoped someone would walk by. No one was in the park at that hour. She watched Hush rocking, pacing, like a windup doll gone mad.

—Run, Hush, Dallas said in a low whisper. —Run.

—Hell no. You better let her go, Hush said with more determination, as if all the moving around was cranking up her power, as if she was contemplating a superhero move.

—Let her go, motherfucker, Hush said, on her tiptoes to make herself a bit taller, stretching her arms out to enlarge her presence.