Forgotten - Queenie Goldstein

Chapter 9 - Freedom

I guess in all my despair I have really forgotten what Jacob's really like. I became another person for a bit but now I can remember.
He's so warm and bubbly inside and I don't know how I could have ever forgotten. But I did. As much as he did really, maybe more.
But now I remember, truly.
We sit and talk in his shop for a bit. It's nothing much just little bits like my childhood but I think I can see something coming back to him in his eyes. He lets me go behind the counter and ice a demiguise. He has to stop every know and then to help people but I don't mind. I'm in my little happy world.
Then when the shop starts to close I leave heart soaring in my head smiling at Jacob who asked me if I wanted to come back tomorrow. I couldn't say no even though I know he doesn't remember much. And that it will probably really hurt me in the end.

But I don't care. For once I am free my soul floating high in the sky.
I'm so happy as I skip-walk along holding my loaf of bread and the bag with the two erumpments.
Tina is already home when I get in.
She's sat on our sofa fiddling with her coat sleeve.
When she speaks her voice is thick with emotion. "Queenie. Where were you?"
I can sense the nervousness vibrating off of her in waves.
I don't lie
"Buying bread" I hold up the loaf
"Where else did you go?" She's really upset but mostly I think that I didn't trust her enough to tell her.
"The bakery" I reply truthfully enough
"Which bakery?" She asks me
"J.Kowalski baked goods" I reply
She doesn't react like I expect her too. But then again she isn't my mother. She's my sister. She didn't mean to be cross with me. She was just worried.
When those words left my mouth she stood up and hugged me.
"Queenie I'm really sorry about Jacob. We don't have to talk about him if you don't want to. Are you okay?"
I pull back and smile at her. "I'm fine, truly"
She looks at me with an odd expression.
"If you want to do this then I won't stop you Queenie. But really I don't want to get hurt. You've suffered enough already"
"Tina.... I really think he might remember me."
I can hear loud and clear her doubt and concern but we both pretend I can't as she smiles at me.
Then she asks me but not out loud this time what I want to eat.
I try and will her to hear my mind like she does when she's talking to me but she has no idea.
"I'm not hungry." I mumble
Tina looks at me. "Have some bread or something." She says opening the brown paper bag and exclaiming when she sees the two erumpments .
"Queenie?....."
I nod. But don't say anything and neither does she. And soon we settle into the comfortable rhythm of cocoa making.