Fault Lines (v1.0) by Unknown Author

Author:Unknown Author
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-03-12T00:00:00+00:00

“Emily!” I tried not to hear the voice, but It came •again, “Emily!” My mother stood in the doorway to her room, her face tight with shock and anger.

Jason sat crosslegged on the floor where I had last seen him, staring at me. The pillows were as I had thrown them. A flood of terror snapped me wide awake.

"Jason? What’s wrong?" He didn’t move.

"Emily, what is the meaning of this? I won’t live like this! I would rather see you dead and in your grave than living like this!”

"Mother, shut up! Jason, look at me.” I touched his hand. He didn’t move, didn't even blink. There was the smell of urine. The floor was wet "Jason, please! Look at me!" I touched his cheek. It was hot, feverish. He stared straight ahead.

"He’s drunk! You went out and got drunk, both of you! You’re living a whore’s life and I won’t tolerate it! You hear me?”

"Shut your goddamn mouth! Get out of here and call a doctor!”

I heard a door slam. She had gone back into her room. I was afraid to leave him, but I had to have help, and finally I went. The doctor I called said I should call Bellevue, that no private doctor would treat anyone in Jason’s condition.

I sat on the floor by him, holding his hand until they came and two men got him to his feet and led him away. He walked almost naturally.

"I’m leaving," my mother said after they had gone. "I'm going to Randolf s.*’

"How will you get there?” I didn’t even look at her.

"I have enough money for that,” she said. Her voice was self-righteous, indignant, accusatory, hateful.

"You have money?”

I turned then and stared at her in disbelief. She was dressed to go out, hat, coat, gloves, her suitcase at her side. "You have enough money to travel to California?”

"I had a little and Randolfs been sending me money, when he could. I told him you lived like . . . worse than a nigger, and he sent me money so I wouldn’t have to do without.”

"You have money?” I snatched her purse from her and emptied it on the table. There were bills and silver. I counted. Four hundred dollars, ninety-nine cents. There were three checks for twenty-five dollars each. I began to laugh then.

"I can't see the humor,” my mother said. She began to put her things back in her purse. "There was no reason to throw good money after bad. You and that man can blow money on drink, no reason for me to let you use Randolf hard-earned money. He works hard, tries to live a decent life....”

I’m not even certain now that she said any of that Bi she might have. I was laughing too hard to hear what sh actually said. The phantom lover strikes again, I though For the second time in my life I was being deserted because of a man I had not slept with.

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