Broken (Edited edition)

Pain

(This is the exact title I gave to the chapter it's based on, I cannot explain it any other way to title it.)

We arrived home after lunch with Nona and going to the mall.  She says she's going to make her famous chicken and dumplings.  I help by chopping celery and carrots, Mark is making the brother with Nona, and Thomas is playing outside with the dogs.  I'm super excited to taste her food, Mark always compares his food to hers.  I pile the two vegetables into two separate piles, then get out of the way.  I walk outside to see Thomas throwing a toy for Lucy and Maggie to chase after."  Hey."  I mumble, and he grins over at me."  Hey, how's dinner coming?"  He asks, and I shrug."  The others are doing a lot of work, and it's smelling really good in there."  I tell him, and sit on the steps of the porch."  You want to throw it?"  He asks me, holding onto the chew toy that he's been throwing for the dogs."  Um...no, I'm okay.  But, thank you."  I tell him, and he shrugs."  Alright, suit yourself."  He says, and throws the toy again.  Lucy go crazy, and dashes for it.  She runs around, avoiding tiny little Maggie, who looks confused our of her mind."  Maggie girl, come here."  I say, and she trots over to me.

I pull her up into my lap, and stroke her fur as I watch the other two play."  So, you're okay with dogs?"  Thomas asks suddenly, and I nod."  Okay, I thought for a moment that you didn't like dogs, but I was wrong I guess."  He says with a smile, and I smile back."  Yes, that would make you very wrong.  I love dogs more than cats."  I tell him, and pet Maggie's head.  Thomas stops throwing the toy, and sits down next to me."  Have you ever tired chicken and dumplings?"  He asks, and I shake my head."  Mark is the first person to give me actual food to eat.  Not me having to find food on my own."  I tell him, and he just smiles."  Well, I'm really proud of my little brother for saving you."  He says, and I grin."  Thank you for um... being okay with me being here."  I tell him, and he smiles."  I think you're best thing to happen to Mark in a while.  He's had a tough life."  He says, and a sadness is in his eyes."  I'm sorry about your dad.  I know what that's like at least."  I tell him, and he wraps his arm around my shoulders.  He slowly kisses my cheek, then smiles at me again.

We walk back into the house, and see the pot of food simmering on the stove."  We watch movie?"  Nona asks, and we shrug."  Sure."  Thomas says, and we both sit down on the couch.  Mark is rubbing his stomach as if he's hungry, and is drinking from a glass of water."  You alright Mark?"  Thomas asks, and he smiles over at him."  I'm just hungry I guess."  He says, but looks concerned down at his stomach.  I don't know what's wrong, but to him it's not normal.  I sit there while tapping my foot on the ground, and watch the TV.  They're watching some show with comedians, Mark and Thomas keep laughing at every thing they do.

Suddenly, Mark stands up during the show."  What's wrong?"  I ask, and he just shakes his head in confusion."  I don't know, my stomach is hurting a lot."  He says, and I stand up."  What do you mean?"

"Well, it's like my scar is ripping apart pain."  He says, and stumbles a bit.  Then, everything went wrong.  Mark started clutching his stomach in pain, and fell down to the ground. I was frozen in fear, and Thomas ran to Mark's side."  Mom!  Mark's hurt."  He shouts, and I can't even speak.  My hands are trembling, and I'm sweating like made.  Everything is in slow motion after that.  Nona comes into the room, looks for what's wrong with Mark, then says something I can't hear due to the ringing in my ears.  I feel as I'm going to puke or choke on my own saliva."  Lyca....Lyca!"  I hear, and feel myself being shaken.  Mark has disappeared and so has Nona.  I look around to find them, but they aren't in here."  Where did they go?  Where are they?"  I say frantic, looking around.  Thomas holds me gently, and picks me up into his arms."  Mark needs to go to the hospital."  He say calmly, and walks me around the house carefully.  I press my forehead into his chest, and he rests his lips against the top of my head."  The doctor's are going to have a look at him for a while, then Nona will call for me to drive you there.  I don't want you to see your father the way I saw my father."  He says, and I hear the car leave the driveway.