Reborn

Chapter Ten

Chapter 10

Left To Bleed

I wake up from the sound of a piano playing. Leaning up from the wool couch, I realize I'm back with my mother. Charlotte sits at the piano, her back turned from me. All the lights were off, the kitchen was pitch black. The only form of light came from the sun beaming through the square-shaped window. Coating the living room with an orange tint. I wrap a hand-knitted blanket around my body, still listening to Charlotte play

"Can I stay?" I ask

Charlotte chuckles

"Until it's time to leave, yes." She turns around away from the wooden piano. "I didn't notice you were awake. Would you like some tea?"

"No, I'm fine." I clench the blanket, feeling the fuzzy holes in it. "I haven't heard you play in so long...could you continue?"

Charlotte smiles

"Of course!"

She turns around, playing a soft quiet melody. The tune almost hypnotizes me. Each key flows together with the next note, giving off this heaven-like sound.

"Has everything been ok?" She asks

I bob my head

"No...Sarah's dead. I wasn't there for her, instead, I went out with the rest of the group to get Allen's body. I wish I could have helped her"

"You did. You tried your best, never forget that. You can't beat yourself over her death"

"I- I know I shouldn't." I pause, looking out the window. "I don't get what's going on with this group. We're losing people left and right. Everyone suspects Jason of killing Allen...but I don't know if he did it. He doesn't seem like the type of man who would murder someone. But there are so many things that don't back up his claims...I don't want to believe this, but I feel like this group is falling apart and I'm stuck in the middle of it"

Charlotte flips her page of music notes, continuing to play on the old piano

"How do you feel, Emma? Besides the group and Jason, how are you?"

My hands grasp together as I lean forward on the couch

"I...I don't know how I feel. I know I'm still sad over what happened with Sarah. I'm trying to stay strong, I am. But sometimes I just can't."

"It's ok if you don't feel strong. Hun, you don't have to stay strong all the time." She turns away from the piano, looking at me. "But I feel like at times when you're at your lowest, you're the most stronger than you are at your highest"

"How?"

"Well, you're there for everyone in that group. You helped that doctor and that soldier with their drinking problems. And with Sarah, I have seen you help her plenty of times."

She stands up, walks over to the couch, and sits down next to me.

"I'm sorry I haven't came back here that often"

"Don't worry about that hun."

I pause

"Are...are you her?"

"Who?"

"My mother. Are you really her"

Charlotte looks at the shiny window. The bright sunbeams on her face

"You know I can't answer that. That's up for you to decide." She looks at her gold watch. "I'm sorry to say this, but it's time to go, Emma."

"Mom, can't I stay just a little bit longer? Please"