A LOST BEAR

Wednesday November 18th

50 Days Before 18th Birthday

Two weeks.

What?

How could it have been over two weeks since my last memory?

"I.... I don't understand."

"There was an incident at school on the second. You were attacked by another student and she...she...."

Mom is crying.

Everyone is so upset.

Barnaby and Brutus haven't even spoken.

Usually, they've insulted me or made a crude joke by now.

What happened?

I look to Mags.

He'll tell me.

But he isn't looking at me.

"She is a Siren, and she used her manipulation power on you cub." Dad finally steps in, his voice tense, like he is holding back his emotions, "she told you to get lost with her powers, so you walked into the woods, in the snow, in only a t-shirt and you wouldn't have been in the right mind to shift. If the risk of hypothermia wasn't bad enough you clearly had no concept of where you were walking and.... And you feel down a ravine in the mountain. If the wolves hadn't found you when they did...."

He doesn't have to finish his sentence.

Everyone in the room knows.

"Your left leg was broken in several places, plus your right arm and clavicle. With everything that you're body went through, well, we're just happy you're awake now." Mom finishes off for Dad.

The air is tense.

I look down at my lap.

Fuck.

I don't even know what to say.

So much trouble.

Because of me.

My eyes are burning.

I don't even try to stop the tears.

It's all too much.

They're all staring.

Stop.

Stop staring.

Stop looking.

STOP.

PLEASE.

"Can you all give us a few minutes?"

I don't even look up as I listen to everyone, but Mom leave the room.

"Oh my sweet cub."

Her arms are carefully going around me.

She moves my head, so it is resting on her shoulder.

"This isn't your fault cub. What that girl did, it wasn't anyone's fault but hers. She is being severely punished for what she has done, and we are going to pull you from school for the rest of the semester. You can go back after Christmas break. Once you have had time to heal. Physically and mentally."

Taking me out of school?

For almost 2 months?

I looked at her, shocked.

"It's for the best Cub. You need time to recover, and your father and I don't want you to have to navigate the school with only 2 working limbs. You'll have to be in a wheelchair because with your arm you can't use crutches and you wont even be able to push it yourself. Please, your father and I will feel better if we know you are safe at home until you are back to your full health."