Fighting Words

Blood spurts from Suki’s wound and Della screams for Francine. Francine grabs a kitchen towel and holds it to Suki’s wrist while calling for Della to call 911. Francine and Della ride in the ambulance with Suki and Della sobs, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry” (155). Suki does not speak. Once at the hospital, doctors report that Suki severed an artery, but that she will not die from her injuries. They take Suki into surgery to mend her arm while Francine and Della wait.

Hours later, Francine and Della can visit Suki after surgery. She is heavily sedated, but manages to whisper, “I just wanted things to stop hurting. Just for one minute” (156). A doctor comes in and explains to Francine that Suki will need to go to a psychiatric hospital to treat “the stuff going wrong in her brain” (156). Della’s guilt grows. She thinks that Suki’s suicide attempt is partly her fault for going to Nevaeh’s, for not realizing what Clifton was doing, and for not protecting Suki. Francine insists that both Suki and Della need therapy and reiterates that what happened to them is not their fault. Della calls