Pure Red by Joseph Danielle

Author:Joseph, Danielle [Joseph, Danielle]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: young adult, Romance, teen, YA, young, fiction, adult
Publisher: Flux is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.
Published: 2011-07-21T05:00:00+00:00

black twizzlers

There’s nothing glamorous about sitting in the washed-out waiting room of Simmons Hospital. The last time I was here was when I was nine and had a really bad sore throat. I was up half the night coughing and Dad rushed me over without even calling my pediatrician. It turned out I had bronchitis.

It’s hard to think that if maybe Mom had made it to this gloomy place, she might have lived. She died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. It’s less than a five-minute ride from our condo.

I was in school that day and went home with my teacher, Mrs. Morgan. Dad didn’t pick me up until after dark. He looked very old and tired when he came to Mrs. Morgan’s front door. His eyes were red and puffy. When he kneeled down to pick me up, I kissed his cheek. It tasted salty like French fries.

That night when he tucked me in bed, he told me that Mom was with the angels and was watching over me. I stared at the ceiling long after he left my room, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. All I wanted was to see her wings flutter.

–––––

When Lucien and I are finally settled in the decaying red plastic chairs that are nailed to the ground, I ask him, “How come you were at my game?”

“Because I wanted to see you play.” He smiles.

“Thanks! But why is it that you can surprise me while Dad obviously can’t.”

“Actually, your father wanted to come, but he needed to finish the painting for the opening of the new wing at Clement House tonight. You can’t have a brand-new section added to a home for children without a painting of the place.”

“I guess not,” I sigh. If only I had decided to spend the summer watching Dad paint, like last summer, then I wouldn’t be here in pain. Oh yeah, I’d probably be in a different kind of pain, though, watching some chick drool all over him. Don’t know which is worse at this point.

“I know your dad isn’t always there when you need him, but he loves you very much. Trust me.” Lucien’s blue eyes sparkle and his smile is full. His hair shines under the florescent lights. It’s been silver ever since I can remember, and he’s never tried to hide it.

“I know, but sometimes I wish … ”

A nurse comes out into the waiting area and says, “Cassia Bernard.”

I lean against Lucien and hobble into a little room.

The nurse is putting pressure on different parts of my ankle. “Ouch,” is all I can mutter.

“You’re going to need an x-ray,” she says, “to make sure nothing’s broken.” I run my fingers over my chest again. Did somebody say the same thing to my mom when they found out she had a heart abnormality?

I would never admit this to Lucien, but I wish Dad loved me as much as he loved her.

–––––

After the x-ray, they put us in an even narrower room with a TV.

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