Game Over: Life's Over

One Day

Hey, everyone! So... I just want to apologize for the slow and short chapter here. I was hoping to write a longer one but the words just aren't coming. I'm hoping the next chapter will be longer and more exciting. Stay tuned!

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I was still enjoying my nap when Mom woke me up. She'd packed away her book and her sunglasses were on the top of her head. She was brushing my wet hair away from my face as she began waking me up from my nap.

"Hey, sweetie. Let's pack up and head home."

I rubbed my eyes. Sleeping after a long day in the sun and water was some of the best sleep you could get. I wasn't close to being done napping but Mom was ready to go home. Hopefully, I could wait until then to finish my nap.

I sat up in my chair and pushed the towel off of me. It was still wet and was now making me cold. I reached for my shirt and pulled it over my head. When it passed my mouth, it pulled my binky from my mouth and sent it tumbling into my lap.

I quickly glanced around in hopes that no one saw that I was using it. It was bad enough that I had the genetic mutation and had to deal with it. I didn't want others to know and judge me for it.

I tossed the binky into the diaper bag and zipped it shut. I helped Mom carry our belongings away from the water and to the parking lot.

Mom put the chairs in the back of the car while I got in. I buckled myself in and rested my head on the back of the seat. I wasn't sure I could wait until we got home to continue sleeping. It felt like I needed to nap more often than I ever used to. It wasn't like me. I was hoping it was just because I was so busy.

I got my binky out of the diaper bag and stuck it in my mouth. I rested my head against the window and let my eyes shut, ready to continue my nap once more.

"Jake, do you want to stop and get something to eat on the way home?"

I mumbled something incoherent around my binky.

"Honey, you need to eat something. I'm not going to let you starve." I didn't want to starve, either, but my nap felt more important than eating something in that moment.

I didn't know if Mom said anything more after that but I fell asleep before we even made it out of the parking lot.

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Mom couldn't carry me from the car to the house and I was pretty annoyed by that fact. Being forced to wake up and walk myself inside felt like torture when I felt as tired as I did. It certainly wasn't Mom's fault but I was still mad nonetheless.

Mom got lunch for both of us on our way home but I was too tired to eat. I knew she wanted to take care of me so I would be allowed to visit her again. She was trying her best to make sure all of my needs were being met and I was safe at all times. She was really making up for all that she didn't do growing up. I couldn't be mad at her for that.

But waking me up certainly made me fussy.

I walked inside and collapsed on the couch. I didn't even want to try to go upstairs and get into bed. I pulled the throw off the back of the couch and covered my body with it. I pushed my binky further into my mouth and squeezed my eyes shut tighter so I could go back to sleep.

Mom sighed as she walked past me. "I really wish you'd eat something, Jake. You have to let me take care of you."

It was a lost cause. I was too tired to eat and she wasn't going to win. Not when I was tired enough to fall asleep, twice, in the middle of our conversation. She'd just have to save the food for later.

I hated to sleep during my whole visit with her but I got tired more frequently than I used to. I needed naps during the day, especially after being active. At least we had a whole weekend together. It didn't feel like enough time but it was better than just one day.