karma → 5sos au

1.7

"Bryana - what's wrong? Why aren't you getting dressed?"

"I - I can't." Bryana lifted her head from the pillow and groaned.

Her mother, already dressed in a very stylish gray suit, shook her head, resting one hand on the doorway. "I knew you shouldn't have gone out driving around town at all hours," she said quietly.

She doesn't know how right she is, Bryana thought dryly.

"Now you've caught that terrible flu that everybody is getting."

"No, I don't think so, Mum. I think I'm just exhausted. One day in bed and I'll be okay."

I'll never be okay, she thought glumly.

I'll never get that hideous, decaying face out of my mind.

"Well, if you don't have the flu, I really think you should make an effort to come to church," her mother said, adjusting the string tie that hung down the front of her pleated silk blouse. "Everyone will be asking about you. I received such nice compliments about you at the fundraiser last night."

Like I'm a prized pedigree dog, Bryana thought bitterly. My, what fine lines she has, Mrs. Holly. Could you put her through her paces for us? Make her heel or sit up and beg?

"I really can't go to church. I'm just going to sleep all day. I'm sorry." She didn't believe a word the pastor said, anyway. What's the point? Bryana thought.

He mother looked more disappointed than concerned. "You know I won't be back till late tonight? There's a luncheon at the Wilkinsons'. And then I have that cocktail party and dinner at the Smiths'."

Well, that's good news. Bryana thought. So go. Please - go, go, go, already.

"Is there anything I can get you, dear? You do look very washed out."

Thanks, Mum. Be sure to get that little dig in before you go.

"No, thanks. If there's anything I need, I'll call downstairs for Helen."

"Oh, no. I gave Helen the morning off. She went to visit her sister for a couple of hours. I guess I shouldn't have, but I didn't know . . ."

That's even better, Bryana thought, burying her head deeper into the pillow. I'll have the whole house to myself.

"Go, Mum. You'll be late for church. Please give my regrets to everyone." She tried not to sound sarcastic while she rolled to her side, her back to the door. Maybe her mother would take the hint and leave.

A few minutes later, she heard her mother going down the carpeted stairs. A few minutes after that, she heard a car door slam and her mother's car start up and then drive off.

Now what?

I can't sleep forever, can I?

What should I do? Pretend that last night didn't happen? Pretend that Luke hasn't become some kind of ghastly creature?

Bryana rolled over, unable to find a comfortable position. She suddenly realised that being all alone wasn't exactly the best idea in the world.

Because all alone there was nothing to take her mind off what happened.

And she would lie there and see his distorted, leering face with its green, crumbling skin, its patches of protruding skill, its missing front teeth, again and again and again.

"No!"

She sat up and dropped her feet to the carpet.

She started to stand up, but her ankle still hurt from when she had fallen on it, running away from him. She stepped down on it gingerly, then applied more weight. It wasn't so bad, she decided.