We Were Brave by Daniels Cap & Mason Melissa

Author:Daniels, Cap & Mason, Melissa
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Anchor Watch Publishing, L.L.C.
Published: 2019-11-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Deplorable

After the nurse delivered my meds, I lay in bed that night and thought about Anna. She was the most impressive college student I’d ever met, and maybe one of the most amazing people I’d ever know.

The courage and strength it must take to deal with the loss of three family members and still live a productive, happy life is unthinkable.

I replayed the conversation a dozen times as my eyes grew heavy. The anger I’d felt on Monday when I believed Anna was hiding the truth about her identity echoed in my head, but I also heard myself telling lies, hiding the truth about who I really was. Hypocrisy is the second-worst lie. Omission is the first. I was guilty of both.

It was the medication, and not a clear conscience, that allowed me to sleep, but my sins drove the nightmares. I dreamed Anna had the same reaction as me when she discovered my lie. In my dream, I saw her tearing up the pages I’d written for her and running from the room, lashing out at everyone in sight. I saw her bound and sedated, just as I’d been. Watching her struggling against the leather straps and gritting her teeth in anger left me aching to free her. It sickened me, and in my sleep, I vowed to tell her everything, even if it destroyed all possibility of a relationship between us.

* * *

Gladys’s voice yanked me from sleep. “I saw they let your daughter—or whoever she is—come back and see you yesterday. How was that?” She slid my breakfast plate onto the table.

“Yeah,” I said, forcing my eyes open. “Dr. Oliver said I’d been good enough to earn a visit.”

Gladys laughed. “You’ve clearly got that doctor-man fooled.”

Through an exaggerated yawn, I said, “I think you’re right.”

“Yeah, I’m right a lot, so get used to it. Now eat your breakfast, sleepyhead. It looks like you’ve got a big day ahead of you.”

I sat up. “What are you talking about?”

She motioned into the hallway with her head. “All them reporter people is out there waitin’ to see you.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Gladys shook her head, “No, sir. I’m serious as a case of diarrhea at the arm-wrestling contest.”

“Ooh, Gladys, that’s disgusting.”

She looked over the rim of her glasses. “Yep, it sure is, but you’ve got to admit it’s serious.”

“What do they want?”

She scoffed. “How the devil would I know what people like that want? I just bring you a plate of food twice a day. I ain’t your secretary.”

“Thank you, Gladys.” I leaned in. “I like you a lot better than the supper guy.”

“Well, of course you do, honey. Now you behave and act like you’ve got some sense. Don’t go throwin’ none of them reporter people through the window. You hear me?”

“I’ll do my best, Gladys, but I can’t make any promises.”

She giggled. “Well, if you gonna do it, you yell for Gladys first, cause I sure don’t wanna miss watchin’ that.”

“Now, that’s a promise I can make.

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