Oedipus Complex

Chapter 6- He's back

"Did you do it?"

The words echoed into his mind. What would she think of him if he said "yes, Norma! I did it. I did it because I love you. I've loved you ever since that night you moved into the hotel. I love your nuttiness. I love your beautiful, outrageously blue eyes. I love your sense of humor. I love the way you got close to me and kissed my cheeks the day I bought your car back for you. I love the way you freak out over the littlest of things. I love you. I love everything about your crazy self." What would she think?

He didn't say a word. He got up, walked over to the counter and picked his keys up to walk over to the door.

"How self righteous of you." she spat out. "Don't walk away from me, Alex. I am talking to you."

It was only 9AM and Alex already felt like the day should be over. "I'm late for work. Goodbye, Norma"

"Alex!" and just like that, he slammed the door shut and headed to work, not giving Norma and satisfaction of knowing that all the horrors she's facing is over.

"Great. Just great." she huffed and slumped back into her chair.

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Norma felt empty. To get over that feeling, she would clean. She'd clean until all the emptiness was filled with rage and she would repeat. As she was dusting off the shelves, she turned around suddenly as she saw a slim figure standing behind her.

"Oh, Norman! Honey,  you startled me. I'm going out later to get some groceries. You want me to make you a sandwich?"

He had a deadly stare. She squinted her eyes and curiously called out, "Norman? Honey, are you hungry"

Nothing.

She reached her arm out to grab his shoulder. "Norman?"

"I won't tell them what you did, Mother. I promise. It'll be our secret and our secret only. No one will find out what happened to her."

Norma began to tear up. Her baby who was eternally the only one she cared about was broken. He was lost and he needed to be found again. For the longest time, she believed only she could help him. After all, she was his mother. They were two parts of the same people.

She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him like a momma bear. "Norman, you're okay! We're okay." She put his arm around her shoulder and took him to his room. She pulled over his blanket and tucked him in like she used to when he was a child. But now, his eyes were shut, he looked pale, worn out and damaged. Norma took the back of her hands and slowly traced them around his forehead. "Norman, it's all gonna be okay... you'll see."

'Alex,' she thought. He was the only person she could think of at this very moment. She ran downstairs, grabbed her phone and gave Emma a call.

"Hi, Emma. I need you to do me a huge favor. Can you please check on Norman every now and then? I have some errands to run and he's not feeling too well." She felt bad for lying to Emma. She did it very often and she felt guilt because, in a way, she felt like she was the daughter she never had.

"Yes, of course. And also, Caleb is here." Her voice broke. " He was asking for you. I was going to give you a call, but I didn't want to put you out."

"Caleb? I... what is he doi— you know what I'll just deal with it later... I need to go but some light bulbs." She grabbed her purse and left the motel to talk to Alex.