Agnes in JackieLand

Chapter 14

It wasn't so bad. Oh, who was I kidding? My cheek was bruised, and the corner of my left eye was bloodshot, swollen, and purple. My lip was split open; I definitely looked like the victim. When the boys returned just before supper yesterday, they were awed, thinking I had gotten into a fight and sad they missed it.

I had made light of it, saying I had fallen down the stairs. They had asked me where Q was. I fought to control the cringe lurking inside me at the mention of his name. I told them we had broken up, so they could not let him in if he came over again. They were upset about the breakup for two minutes, then switched to being hungry.

I was so frightened last night alone in this giant mansion. I kept thinking that Quincy, or anyone for that matter, could be hiding in one of the unused rooms. I had locked the doors and windows up tight and put the alarm on. However, I was curious to know if Quincy knew the code, so that was on my to-do list today.

I might have gotten an hour or two of sleep, and I felt it. My movements were slow and jerky like I was in an old-school zombie flick. It was Monday morning. No way was I going to school looking like this, but I did have other places I wanted to go.

After getting the boys in the car and off to school with Henry, I got myself ready for when Henry came back to get me. Today, I had to try to fix things. Everything was a mess; everything I had tried to change was even more broken than it was before. Jackie's whole life had turned upside down because of me. Her mother and father were gone, and she no longer had a boyfriend.

Looking at myself, I saw the lost, hurt, and alone person I was feeling. Last night was even worse. I had no one to turn to. I had tried getting Leeann to come over, but she was busy. No way was I asking Cindy. I tried calling Graham again. No surprise he didn't answer.

Henry beeped the car horn outside, and I made my way out to it. The car ride to Hope Hospital was silent. I watched the city pass by me in a blur of colors. Feeling numb inside, I put my head against the sun-heated glass and prayed for a sign that things would get better.

Hope Hospital was busy this morning. People paid no attention to me as I slunk my way through the halls until I found what I was looking for: the Psych Ward. At the reception desk, I asked a slightly overweight, friendly blonde which room Vivian Franklin was in. I was directed to room three-ten, where I found Mrs. Franklin sitting in a rocking chair looking out the window.

The room was bright, with the sun's rays beating through the window. It was overly warm; I wish I hadn't worn the hoodie I had on.

"Mother," I spoke softly.

Vivian didn't move, not a blink of an eye, nothing. I sat gingerly on the bed facing the window, unsure what to do. It was a nice view of the "food court," which is outside, surrounded by a blooming garden. They couldn't have put Jackie's mom in a better room.

"Mother," I said a little louder this time.

Vivian turned her head toward Jackie and stared at me through glassy eyes. She looked pale and fragile, a former person of the woman I had seen Saturday fighting for her right to stay in the mansion. She had been defeated. There was no fight in her eyes, nothing but emptiness.

"Where is my daughter?" she asked.

I looked at her, my brows knitted in confusion. Was she losing her mind? "I'm right here," I told her, smiling at her to reassure her that it was true.

Vivian shook her head. "No," she replied, shaking her head again. "You are not my daughter."

My blood ran cold. Did she know? Could she sense that I wasn't her daughter? "Mom, I'm your daughter."