>>58199874
>Lie.
>For God’s sake, lie.
>A white lie wouldn’t hurt.
>Say you changed last night.
>They avoided social media.
>They might not have seen the footage of you.
>”Are you there?” Mom chimed in, interrupting your corrupt thoughts.
>Something beneath told you it would worsen the uncontrolled aura.
>You had to reel yourself in.
>Ground yourself.
>Gritting your teeth, you began.
“Last month, I…”
>”A whole month?!” Mom cried.
>Behind her, Dad’s rage filled the car again.
“No, no!” You half-shouted back, desperately trying to control your rising gorge.
>How dare she interrupt you.
>How dare she immediately twist what you said.
”Almost a month!” You resaid, immediately recognizing the difference of a few days changed nothing.
>Mom exhaled through her nose.
>You could picture her right now.
>Rubbing the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger.
>Oh, what you wouldn’t give to-
>Calm down.
>Just…
>Imagine training again.
>Breathe in.
>Slowly…
>”Honey. You were infected.” Mom annunciated.
>You bit your tongue.
>Breathe out…
>Slowly…
>”You obviously caught something.”
>She waited, hoping this time you’d respond.
>With no comeback but running water, she spoke a third time.
>”You know that, right?”
“Yes.” You loudly stated. “Obviously, yes.”
“Does that make you feel better?” You spat.
>”No…?”
>”No. It does not. No, it does not make this better.”
>Her anger rose, but she was just as confused as here in the house.
>”I- We’re worried! About you!”
>”Oh God, he probably can’t think straight.” She hypothesized to Dad.
>A small argument broke out between your parents.
>Good.
>It gave you a moment of respite.
>In…
>Out…
>In…
>The water no longer steamed away.
>It almost felt like washing your hands now.
>The dulled, purple flame around your hands still remained.
>”What if it’s like a fever?”
>”Maybe he’s delirious…”
>You appreciated your mother trying her best to come up with some manner of excuse.
>Whether she realized it or not, she was defending you.