Fall Down & Smile

Chapter 10

"I will remember you. Will you remember me?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Iya, sweetheart, come back to the house," Sylvia pleaded for the

third time that week.

Since Donny's slip into comatose I hadn't left his bedside. That

was five days ago. I hadn't slept or eaten or showered for that matter.

But the tiny bathroom in Donny's room had become my greatest friend and

companion.

As acid ate away at my stoamch, very frequently I would end up

dry-heaving into the toilet.

"Please, dearest."

I stared at her with empty eyes. My black hair stuck to my body as

a thick grease covered every strand. My skin was pale and clammy.

"Mommy?" James whispered, walking out form behind Sylvia. "Please

come home."

I tried to smile at him but couldn't find the muscles.

Sylvia gently gripped my arm. "Come on, dearest," she whispered

and pulled me up.

I tripped over my own feet and felt a lump form in my throat. She

wrapped an arm around me and took James' hand.

*******

The car drive back to the house seemed non-existent. Sylvia helped

me out of the car and into the house.

"Come on, dear. We'll get you into a nice hot bath and then a nice

warm meal into your stomach."

I tried to reply but my lips were cracked and dry. I nodded

instead.

Sylvia helped me up the stairs and into the bathroom. She was

about to start the bathtub when the doorbell rang. She flipped on the

nozzle. "I'll be right back, dear," she kissed my forehead and left the

room.

I stared at the bath rug. It was a light blue color. Donny's

favorite color. The tiled floor was a pale green that matched the yellow

paint on the walls. There were a few daisies sprayed along the wall with

stencils.

The door opened again. A pair of arms encircled my shoulders.

Familiar arms.

"Oh, Muffin," Dawn sniffled.

I looked up into her tear-filled blue eyes. My hand came up and

cupped her cheek. I forced my lips apart as blood trickled from the tiny

wounds. "Y-You came back," I managed to whisper.