Are You Mine by N.K. Smith

Author:N.K. Smith
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2013-05-14T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Fox

“Hey, Mama,” I say as I approach her cautiously. Just because Etta said she’s doing good today doesn’t mean it can’t change in an instant.

She jumps a little at my voice, but looks up. “Fox!”

Her eyes are bright, so I let out a sigh of relief. “Hi.”

I sit down next to her. She looks like she has taken a shower within the past few days, but her hair is matted again. It’s at least a step up from where she’s been the past few months. She’d been refusing to get into the water because she was convinced the hospital was putting radioactive material in it. Before that, she was sure the government was sneaking mind control drugs into the water supply. Her theory was that it would absorb into your bloodstream via your skin. More concerning had been her refusal to drink.

The hospital had to sedate her and hydrate her with an IV.

“Can we draw today, Fox?”

I don’t want to say no because it’s been a while since she’s been interested in anything. “Of course, but Etta said you wanted to take a walk.”

My mother’s expression darkens as she pushes out her lips and narrows her eyes. “What does Etta fucking know?” She throws a look full of malice at the nurse standing by the door. “Nothing! That’s what,” she yells.

“Mama,” I say for no other reason than because I think it might mean something to her.

“Yes. I’ll walk with you, but not through the trees. The parasitic worms will fall on our heads and burrow into our brains.”

I glance at the viewing window and see just the edge of Saige’s shoulder. This is probably a bad idea. I shouldn’t have brought her, but that doesn’t matter now. She’s here. I’m here, and my mother is here.

My mom holds something tight in her hands. Before I can ask, she shoves it toward me. I dodge back just in case it’s something sharp or painful but then feel stupid. She’s holding out her hairbrush.

I take it, and our hands touch. Normally she winces and cowers away when she feels skin on skin, but she doesn’t today. Maybe it is a good day for her.

“You’re so handsome. What a grown-up you’ve become. My boy!”

Heat prickles my cheeks at the compliment and tears rise up in my eyes. It’s not the time for blushing or tears, so I sidestep all the emotions I feel and say, “Thank you, Ma,” in a soft voice.

Again, something dark passes through my mother, but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she turns around and waits for me to brush her hair. It takes forever to get the knots out, but it’s something I can do to let her know I love her.

“Did you paint anything for me? They put me in a bigger room, so I have more walls to cover.”

I already know my mother thinks too much blank wall space gives the government too much room to use x-rays to spy on her. “I didn’t know that.

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