Allison
As I trudged up the stairs, my feet felt heavy with worry. I glanced over the railing, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jayden, but he was nowhere to be seen. A fast walker now, isn’t he?
A small, wistful smile played on my lips as I continued on to my mom’s hospital room.
I pushed open the door and slipped inside, my eyes adjusting to the dim lighting. Mom lay in bed, her gaze fixed on the phone in her hand as she watched a rom-com which got her all grinning and chuckling.
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Is it that interesting?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
Mom looked up, a hint of a smile on her face. “Very. You should join me.” But I could tell she was just being polite.
I settled into the bed beside hers, feeling the soft give of the mattress. “No, don’t bother,” I said, waving my hand dismissively. “I’m fine.”
Mom’s gaze lingered on me, her eyes searching. “Won’t you go back to campus?” she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
I shook my head, feeling a surge of protectiveness toward her. “No, I’m not leaving. I’ll stay here tonight.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you worried about me?” she asked, her voice soft.
I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. “Obviously,” I replied, trying to sound nonchalant despite the worry gnawing at my heart.
“Aww, such a sweet daughter,” I heard her chuckle, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Mom?” I called out softly, and she turned to me with a warm smile.
“Yes, what is it, darling?” she asked, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
I hesitated, unsure how to phrase my question. But with Jayden no longer around, I felt a sense of freedom to ask. “I wanted to ask you something,” I began, my voice barely above a whisper.
Mom’s expression turned curious. “Of course, sweetie. What’s on your mind?”
I took a deep breath before blurting out my question. “You haven’t mentioned the stuff about the therapist anymore…”
“I don’t think I can call her again,” was her reply.
“Why not, mom?” I asked, her voice tinged with concern, with a small frown playing on my face. “You were the one that wanted me to undergo therapy, wasn’t it?”
“I wanted to get the therapist because I wanted you to forget the whole past and move on,” she snapped, a scowl on her face. “But you wanted to use therapy to remember the past the past that almost had you killed, Allison!”
I sighed, my shoulders sagging slightly. I didn’t respond, instead offering a gentle nod. But then, I thought of telling her about Gideon but thought it was best I kept it to myself. Who knows what she could do or say to me. No matter what, I was going to remember that past before I turn absolutely crazy.
I decided to press on, asking another question that had been weighing on my mind. Certainly not the ‘Gideon’ question.
“Mom, can I ask you something else?”
Her expression softened, and she nodded slightly. “Ask me anything you need to, darling. I’m all ears.”
I swallowed hard, my mind racing with questions. “Were you serious about wanting to divorce… my stepdad?”
Mom nodded, her expression somber. “Yes, I was serious.” Her voice emphasized on the ‘was,’ straining it so hard.
I frowned, confusion etched on my face. “But now you’re not getting a divorce? What happened?”
Mom’s gaze drifted away, her voice barely above a whisper. “It just didn’t work out, but I’m still contemplating it. Anyway, let’s just forget about it, okay?”
My eyes locked onto hers, a hint of resignation in my voice. “Alright then, if you say so…”
I took a deep breath, my next question burning on my lips. “Mom, answer me this: why don’t you want to tell Sally anything nowadays?”
Mom’s expression turned guarded, her eyes darting away. “What do you mean?”
I pressed on, my voice firm but gentle. “You didn’t want Sally to know about you contemplating divorce, and now you don’t want her to know you’re in the hospital. Don’t give me the excuse that you don’t want her to worry she’s your daughter too.”
“Can we not talk about this, please?” Mom’s frown deepened, her voice tinged with frustration. “You’re asking too many questions.”
I stood my ground, my voice firm. “I’m not leaving. I’m staying here tonight, and I’ll go tomorrow morning. Besides, weren’t you the one that told me to ask questions and you were all ears?”
Mom’s expression turned cold, and she lay down on the bed, turning her back to me. Letting out a soft scoff, I closed my eyes, feeling a mix of emotions, and before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.
I woke up late that night, the room dimly lit. I turned to check on Mom and saw that she was asleep. I got out of bed and walked over to her, gently touching her hand to make sure she was okay. Her body felt normal to the touch, and her temperature seemed fine.
Reassured, I returned to bed and picked up my phone. I decided to scroll through Instagram for a bit, catching up on posts and updates. As I browsed, my mind began to wander, thoughts drifting back to our earlier conversation.
As I continued scrolling, I stumbled upon a message notification from Jayden. A brief smile crossed my face, and I opened the message, curiosity getting the better of me.
My eyes widened, and my mouth dropped as I saw the picture he’d sent a snapshot of his erect veiny dick. This wasn’t what I was expecting, but a flutter in my chest told me I wanted it.
I felt a blush rise to my cheeks as I gazed at the picture, my mind racing with thoughts I couldn’t quite process.