Keepsake

Chapter 14

Alysia Evers

For a short time I'd wanted to tell my mom and dad about Marcus and I. I felt they should know. They didn't seem like they would be too harsh on us about it, but it was risky. As for Marcus and I, we were kind of in a state of starting over and giving ourselves some time to decide if going this route was a good idea. Two cousins dating was unheard of in my family, probably frowned upon.

My parents had left me alone at home and I decided to take a shower. A part of me hoped for Marcus to call me and set up some plans for tonight. We agreed on dating again, but I could tell that he was being cautious with me when I was around him. Maybe it was because of all of the eyes watching up from our friends.

I felt that we needed to be careful also, but I didn't want to let that get in the way of showing how we felt. Often times Marcus would catch me flirting with him when no one was looking. Even though he was cautious about me doing that, he still liked it.

I sighed at the thought. I wasn't sure of what to do about this whole thing. We could keep it a secret for a long time, maybe, and then tell other people the truth, and although I wasn't afraid of doing that, the thought of how we would be treated worried me.

I awoke from my thoughts in the shower and more of them flowed. If I told mom and dad about Marcus and I, maybe they'd be upset. My dad, if anything, would most likely be mad or bothered. Prejudice could have a hand in it. But my father wasn't prejudice and I knew that he'd listen to me if I just explained it. My mother would probably not speak to me for a couple of days, but I knew that she could understand. If not for love, then she'd understand because she'd see how Marcus and I are with each other.

In the shower, suddenly my foot slipped and I was falling, trying to grab for anything to hold myself up. The curtain proved too slick and I slammed down on the toilet feeling a sting and burn throughout my whole left arm. My body stiffened and rolled down onto the ground.

As I lay there, my left arm is sending what could only be explained as lightning bolts shooting up through it. My breathing and heart were speeding. I tried to move my arm and screamed at the sharp pain. I rotate onto my back and try to reach for the phone with my right hand. It proves to be difficult, but I knock it from the edge of the sink to the floor next to me. I scan through the contacts and call dad. It's busy. I call mom and she doesn't pick up.

My fist nearly crushes the phone when another pain bolts through my arm and I start to feel numb in it. Next to mom is Marcus in the contacts. I hurry and hit Send without thinking it over.

He picks up in two rings.

"Hey, Alysia," he answers in a low tone.

"Marcus?" I ask in a cry.

"Alysia?" Marcus asks knowing something is wrong in my tone.

"Marcus, I . . ." I trail off.

"Alysia, what is it? What's wrong?" His voice was loud and alert.

"I, I fell out of the shower . . . and," I couldn't finish from the pain. I eyes were squeezing tight.

"Are you home?" he shouted into the phone.

"Yeah."

"I'm coming over."

My eyes shut and I drop the phone next to me. I try not to move and wait for the pain to settle down.

After about ten minutes I hear glass shatter downstairs. Footsteps race up the stairs and Marcus' voice calls my name aloud. The doorknob shakes, but it's locked.