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You help your sisters get ready for school and talk to them before they walk to the bus stop 2 blocks away.
“Me and mom are just gonna be going to check up on dad, Okay? We should be back before you guys, but if not, do you two know where the extra key is?” They both nod enthusiastically.
“Where is it?”
“Under the rock in front of the rose bush!” They shout
“Shhhh, easy. Remember, it’s supposed to be a secret. But good job. Oh, and hold on to it, we’ll put it back when me and mom get home, okay?” You pat the two on the head and they giggle.
“Are- Are the hospital people gonna fix daddy like they fixed you, Anon?” The youngest of you three asks. You glance down at your knee brace but your other sister speaks up for you.
“Of course they will! Dad will be just fine, you’ll see!” You smile at her enthusiasm.
“She’s right. But, you two should hurry along, don’t wanna miss the bus, do ya?” A look of realization dawns on their faces and they take off running down the sidewalk. You yell for them to be careful and you get a “We will!” in response as they round the corner and disappear from your sight. You turn back and see your mother standing in the doorway of your house. You limp up and hug her, she returns the embrace and whispers how much she loves you all. You ask if she wants to shower or eat breakfast or do anything, but she’s adamant you two leave now. The ride to the hospital is dead silent,and you wait just inside the door as your mom approaches the desk. Something is wrong. You get a feeling of deja vu as an instinctual part of your mind urges you to leave as fast as you can. You can’t hear what the nurse and your mom are saying, but the nurse seems to call someone and gestures towards the waiting area. You follow your mother and take a seat next to her and she holds onto your hand, almost as if she can sense how you're feeling. Or maybe it’s just that obvious. Eventually, a doctor comes and the nurse points to the two of you. He approaches and you can already tell by the look on his face what’s gonna happen. Your mother desperately asks if your father is okay. You squeeze her hand a lot harder than you thought you might as he begins to speak.
Toxic chemicals….
3rd degree burns to 95% of his body….
Multiple organ failure….
Did everything they could….
Your mom begins to wail into your shoulder as you blankly stare at the floor.
“What’s that, Anon? You got a girlfriend? That’s my boy! Here, have a beer with your old man and tell me about her!”
“Hey, son. I know I don’t call you often, but, uh, I’ve got a question for you. Do you happen to... know which treats Button likes more? Is it the one with the blue bag or the ones with the red?”
“Moving out? Well, I’ve been meaning to find a place for a home gym, hahahaha! Don’t tell your mom I said that.”
“I know whatever you choose to do you’ll be great at it. I’m so proud of you, Anon.”
You blink and you’re standing in front of your door. Your mother had just unlocked it and she’s trudging upstairs. For a second time today you're struck with the feeling of something being very wrong. You check the time and see it’s 4:10pm. Nothing seems out of pla-Wait. Is it really ten after four? You double check and it in fact is. Shouldn’t your sisters be home? Where are they? You look at the shoe rack and see their shoes aren’t there. Okay, maybe they just went to a friend's house or something after coming home? You glance down at the rock in front of the rose bush. You push it with your good foot and see the key still underneath. Your head throbs. No, they wouldn’t do that. They’d go straight home and wait before doing anything like that. Your knees go weak and you start to hyperventilate. No, you have to call somebody, tell them what’s wrong. You can barely get your phone out of your pocket before the headache becomes too much and you black out trying to put in your password.
You dream of a tattered cape billowing in wind you can’t feel.
You wake up on your living room couch, Button curled up next to you. It’s dusk, and the last hints of sun will be gone within the hour. The absolute silence is cut short by the sound of heavy knocking at your door. You dazedly get up and shuffle to the door. On the other side is a police officer, and he almost looks surprised to see you.
