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I hang up, toss the phone on the bed, and check inside the bathroolass and the sink and mirror are stained with blood The shower curtain is torn from the rod and pills scatter the inside of the bathtub
"Molance under the bed "Ian’s on his way, and he told me to tell you that it was okay to talk to me" I pad over to the closet door and throw it open "Moly numb voice floats over ainstbackwards "You scared the shit out of me"
She’s just outside the doorith a pair of scissors in her hand An X on her forehead drips blood into her eyes and the entire front of her shirt is drenched in blood "It’s not okay to be around you at all" Her eyes are unemotional, as if she’s detached from reality Blood trickles from her wrists as she raises the scissors above her head "You’re a killer! The cops think so! And Grand rationally But you did it anyway"
I holdfor my phone on the bed "Moh to numb the pain--he toldback as if so in her ear "Yes, I know, but she’s not… Okay, I will try" Her soulless gaze locks on me "Ember, my dear child, why did you ever have to be born? Ian was fine and your father and I were so happy his disorder did not pass along to him But then you arrived, and we could see it in your eyes The way you talked to the air and whispered secrets to the plants while you drained their life away"
"I…" Does she know aboutabout?" I continue to feel around for my phone "And Dad didn’t have schizophrenia, everyone just thought he did"
"I’ht red, and her veins bulging "I’ to you"
My fingers brush the edge of the phone "Mom, just calm down--"
She barrels forith the scissors pointed out in front of her I leap on the bed and bolt for the bathroo them out from under me I fall on my back and she raises her arm up and sinks the scissors into my chest
"Moasp for air
She leans overmiraculous to happen "I’m sorry, my sweet baby, but he made me do it Death is more powerful than the mind" She brushes my hair back
Blood floods my throat and pours out of my mouth as I yank the scissors out of my chest "Mom…"
She places her hand over my heart "Go ahead, take it I know you can You did it with your grandma"
Blood continues to stream out the hole in my chest and runs like a river over her hand I look into her eyes, wondering if it’s really her in there or if tonight her ht
Thu as it dies
"Take it, Es, her eyes wide "Before it’s too late"
My eyes close as s the last lyric, s shrivel I start to let myself drift to sleep--or death--when I sense someone else’s presence in the room and I force my eyelids open
The Grim Reaper lurks behind my mother, concealed under his hood, his dark eyes onin her ear and then steps back
"It’s time," she tells me with her hand extended toward rains of sand have expired and lass is empty"
"Take it, Erin "Take her life"
I feel the thunder of her heart attack with the silence of s back up I gasp for air and watch in horror as her skin wrinkles to a lady twice her age
"Mommy" I throw her hand off my chest and she collapses to the floor I hover above her, checking her wrist for a pulse She looks so old and frail… so… lifeless
The Reaper watches ainst the wall, see pleased
I throw a shoe at hi life!"
"What the hell?" solance back and Ian is standing right behind me His eyes are opened wide and are filled with helplessness as he stares at ourdead on the floor
The Grih h the bedroom wall
"Call a da on her chest, pleading for her heart to beat
He blinks dazedly and quickly takes his phone out of his pocket Tears pool in oing, refusing to stop until the paramedics arrive and take over But even when they roll her away on the stretcher, she still isn’t breathing on her own And she is still so aged
They wheel her out into the ahts flashing Ian and I hop in his car and he hands me his jacket I slip it on and cover up the blood on my shirt But I can’t hide the blood on my hands
That will be there forever
Chapter 17
Ian and I return hoht after h dosage of her s and alcohol in her systeain, the sudden aging had subsided But there were a few extra wrinkles around her eyes and a little rey in her hair