>>58207527
“I didn’t know it’d scare you so much, alright?”
>Mom sighed and sniffled.
>”Honey, I…”
>”One, our vacation is…”
>Dad said something incomprehensible behind her.
>”We can’t go on vacation. Not after this.”
>”I won’t be responsible for getting someone sick…”
>The desire to lash out was strong.
>You let her get her thoughts out.
>In a conversation with Mom, she liked doing the speaking and for others to do the listening.
>She had difficulty keeping the tears in.
>Dad decided they couldn’t go, and Mom agreed.
>It was their civil duty not to, they told you.
>And likely said it to make themselves feel better.
>As the conversation neared its depressing end, you were rocked from your pedestal.
>”We might die, you know.” Mom declared.
>She could no longer keep it together.
>You heard the tears.
“D-Don’t say that. Don’t…” You stuttered, taken aback by the dark turn.
>”What if I wake up a turtle?”
“Oh, c’mon, c’mon…”
>”Or Dad becomes a… I dunno, a kangaroo?”
“That’s not…”
“That’s not going to happen.”
>It was ridiculous.
>Most people in town were remained human.
>By a huge majority.
>…
>But there was the possibility.
>”And you…”
>Mom choked up merely thinking about it.
>”If you made it happen…”
>A soft bawling came from the phone.
>Then it abruptly ended.
>Staring at the phone, you watched the screen dim and sleep.
>The black screen reflected your own red eyes.
>More red than normal.
>Bloodshot and sore.
>Sprawling on the cool bathroom floor was unsanitary.
>It was gross.
>Animals did this.
>But you felt the appeal.