Chapter 9-2

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The Taylons were in the kitchen. Mrs Taylon was rinsing off the soap from the dishes, and Asher was rubbing them dry with a dishcloth beside his mother. From the living room across the kitchen, the rustling of newspapers was heard as Mr Taylon flipped through The Sacherton Times.

For the last couple of weeks since their son was back, Mrs Taylon was trying to follow through her routines to take her mind off the hurtful reality of what had become of his son. He was back. And not only back, but back in one piece, safe and sound just as the police had promised. But this was not her son. As troubled or defiant as he was, that, was the son that she and her husband had grown to love, care for, and be proud of.

As she washed the dishes, she couldn't help but feel distant and alienated from the boy standing next to her. She thought about the first day she met him at the hospital, seeing him taking his first step, riding his bike for the first time without her or her husband's help, and sending him off to school. It was heart wrenching.

"What happened to you, Ash?" Mrs Taylon muttered under her breath.

Asher didn't seem to hear. He continued rubbing the plates and forks with the dishcloth, stacked them neatly into piles, and placed them back into the cupboards. 

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