Riley's Box

Part 34

I understood how expensive health care in my country could be, but I couldn't help but feel as though my mother was verging on being just a little selfish, here. 

If grandmother needed the treatment, then we were going to have to do something about that. We wouldn't be able to just let grandma suffer. She needed us and more importantly, we needed her. I needed her, especially as far as the golden box, that was currently located in my bedroom closet, was concerned.

"I really don't think that I'll ever be able to forgive those doctors for charging us as much as they did last time! The cheek of it," she said. 

"Mom, I really don't think that we're in a position where we need to be worrying about money, right now," I managed to say. There was a lot to think about, here, and I wasn't even sure where to start. 

Sooner than I could say anything more, a familiar old lady came into view. 

"It's alright. I can always use a wheel chair," my grandmother said, as she walked into the hall to join us. "But I don't think that will be necessary. Your mother has been worrying about me all day. I haven't even mentioned my hip." 

I knew something must have been up. 

My mother could be manipulative at times, especially when she needed answers- like mother like daughter, I supposed. 

"What's in the box, Riley?" my mother asked me. 

"Absolutely nothing," I said. I tried not to make eye contact with my grandmother, as I said this. I really didn't want to accidentally give anything away. I could never explain the existence of the Sins to my mother and that much I knew with certainty. 

My grandmother, on the other hand, might not be so reluctant to believe me. 

My mother sighed and walked into the living room. 

Meanwhile, my grandmother took a few steps towards me. 

"Grandma, I know," I whispered to her. "And I'm going to get those shadow spirits back. I promise." 

At this statement, my grandmother's eyes widened. 

There was a moment in which I had to wait in terror, wondering whether I had got it all wrong and my grandmother didn't have any clue about the box at all. 

However, then she squeezed my hand in hers and smiled at me appreciatively. 

"I knew that I could count on you, Riley," she said. "I'll be honest, I really was hoping that you would figure it all out on your own. I know that you're smart enough to do this." 

"Thank you. My only question is: why me, grandma?" I asked. Why did I have to do this? 

"Why not you, Riley? You're my granddaughter. That means that a certain strength runs in your blood. I trust that you can put the world right again! It was only practical for me to give the box to someone that I knew that I could trust," she said. "Realistically, you were the one that was most likely to believe me." 

"Of course, I do, grandma," I said with kindness in my voice. 

My grandmother squeezed my hand one more time and then took a step away from me. 

"I think I'm going to have a Pringle. I'm hungry. I'll speak to you soon, darling," she said. 

"Speak to you soon, grandma," I replied and watched after my grandmother, as she walked towards the kitchen again. 

When she was out of sight, I bolted up the stairs towards my bedroom again, almost toppling over my father and the laundry basket, on the way to my room. 

"Woah, easy there, Riles. Are you alright?" he asked me, with genuine curiosity in his gaze. 

After my talk with grandma, I really was feeling a little better. 

I managed to steady myself, as I continued the walk to my bedroom door. 

"Yeah, dad. I'm fine," I assured him. 

I then walked into my room and flopped down onto my bed. 

"Now, who's being lazy?" a familiar voice asked me, as Otius collapsed onto the bed a short distance away from me. 

I stared up at the ceiling and allowed my breathing to steady. Soon enough, I sat up on the bed and turned to Otius with a friendly smile. 

"I was only thinking," I said. "We all need some rest from time to time, after all." 

"Now, there's something that I can agree with you on!" he said, with his own broad smile. "You're a pretty cool person, Riley Ruby. Can I call you Riles like some of your friends do? It only has one syllable, so it's easier." 

I felt my mouth twitch at Otius' suggestion, but nodded my head all the same. 

"Yeah. No problem," I told him kindly. 

I felt myself beginning to relax, then, which of course meant it was time for Invidia to jump out of the closet and antagonise me. 

"Yeah, yeah. 'No problem'- what exactly are we going to do about this little situation with Jason and him dating the one person you can't stand?" she asked me. 

"Yeah! I thought Jason was supposed to be ours," Adina pointed out and then fluttered her eyelashes, in her confusion. 

At their suggestions, I gave a shake of my head. 

"Jason's just my friend. A friend. I'm there for him; he's there for me. That's the way that things have been for a while, now, and that is the way that they will continue to be. Jason's not the most understood person. I doubt even Susie could ever crack his mind. So, I'm not worried. Even if they are dating, he'll never be as close to her, as he is to me. Jason understands me and knows me better than anyone else. I doubt that Susie could even come close to being as important to him as I am," I said. 

Prida met my gaze with an expression of approval, then. 

"I hate Susie," Ira muttered, as he leant against the closet door. 

I felt an intense heat in my blood any time I thought about her, but I didn't hate Susie, right? Did I?