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She whirls fro Kayti’s blanket off a chair before she snatches the bag ofKayti’s dose is unchanged from her last infection; I never did tell Anna how reat tugs, wiping my face

Then I turn the lock, flip the lights out, and walk nu quarters I should eat, perhaps It’s been near twelve hours I pull out a round, white plate that was my Mum’s, a loaf of bread, soe

“Why use that plate for a sier than the sandill be Bit of wasted space”

I flinch at the voice in …I suppose I don’t expect to hear hi h, he won’t hush up Me hands assemble the sandwich

“Why are you ain? Who asked for tumeric soup?”

“I’ve had a long day Shouldn’t ? Or do you cook sie?”

I stare down at the sandwich as it blurs about the edges It looks perfectly nice despite the extra space on the plate There’s nothing wrong with how Iwith Mummy

I set the plate down and oodenly into the bedroom, where I slip my shoes off, lie down in the bed, and pull the covers over , the sheets smell stale and odd Beneath irlhood

I don’t pray the rosary, but siid as a corpse

Please help me Oh, please Please help me Please help me Tears roll into“Please Please Please” Each time I say it, my eyelids feel heavier

Knocking wakesheart The quiet house I wonder if I dreaain: two more raps, delivered with a heavy hand A male hand

Terror rolls through me I never checked the ship schedule…

I sit up Take a thorough breath The knocking coain, less rhythmic this time I slip on my shoes and drift into the clinic It’s all dark inside Through the closed blinds, slits of white ht I can’t see the clock on the far wall, so I’ve no idea what tih me with every step toward the door

I don’t knohy I’et pulled into another place So happens, I’m flashed back to the past…delivered to the clutches of my old, familiar fears

Were you as daed as me, Mummy?