Phrontistery Of Monster Kind - Six Feet Deep

Chapter 37

Everyone acted like nothing happened, going about their days as though one of the oldest connections to this land hadn't died. To them she was one of the ghost girls, a creepy child who was left abandoned at an elementary school because her parents died, but to me, she was everything. And I allowed her to rot away alone for centuries.

Penelope should have told me the moment it happened. We- I was all she had left of her time alive, and she thought I was dead. She thought I was my own ancestor.

At least she got half the story right. She would be so disappointed in me. The worst part is she can't even tell me herself. She will never complain about my ex-husband. She never got to meet my loves and more importantly, she never got to find one of her own.

How dare death taunt me repeatedly? To grant me hope and then rescind it. Was this my punishment?

I wasn't going to stand for it. There has got to be a way to stop this, to get back at whoever decided this was going to be my life and believe me, I will find out.

When I entered the hospital ward, Mary scrutinised me, tutted, then scolded me for not following orders. She reminded me that the students she patched up were better at taking care of themselves than I was.

"What on earth did you do to break it again?" Mary asked.

I kept my gaze lowered, not saying a word since I informed her of the break. Mors had left to park the van. Mary expected me since we got on the road, and he forced me to call her to tell her I would be visiting her when we got back. "It's quicker than going to the doctors in town," he informed me and Mary through the speaker.

"You weren't in town?" Mary asked as she began to re-bandage my arm. She ducked, trying to catch my eyeline, but my stare didn't falter. "I'm not shocked that you broke it again. I had a feeling you were going to be trouble, which is why I got this green cast for you." It was a garish green and would clash with everything I wore. Maybe I could stain it, so it was a darker green. "Isha told me you would do this-"

I hung my head in shame, tears stinging my eyes. I was aware of how reckless my behaviour had been, but couldn't seem to help it.

"I'm sorry," I choked. "It was an accident, I swear. I didn't mean too-"

"I believe you. Just be cautious next time. I was hoping you'd have it fixed in time for the dance, but now you'll have to work your outfit around it," she joked, patting my shoulder. Her efforts were in vain. Her face sank, "I am gathering something happened while you were away. Would you like me to call one of your friends over? Mors? Walton?"

"I'm fine." Words that rarely mean what they suggest.

Mary sighed, moving away to fetch something from the front of the room, "I doubt this will resolve your issue, but-" she grabbed a jar of lollipops and returned offering the jar towards me. "Have one." I waited a moment; in case she retracted her offer. She rarely offered them to staff as she had imported them and decided not to give them to the adults. She refused to give me one last time since I was here despite my best efforts.

"Are you sure?" Mary nodded, jostling the jar. I dug in, fumbling about until I found a pink one. Strawberry, I hoped.

"I thought you'd opt for green."

"Pink things always taste good. Cotton candy, strawberry milk, and flavoured amoxicillin."

Mary agreed, watching as I tore through the clear plastic with my teeth and spat it out onto my skirt. I stuck the lolly into my mouth a moment later. It tasted like the cheap dollar store lollies that had been left out in the sun. Strangely perfect.