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I collect the few things on my nightstand next to my bed and shove them impatiently in my backpack, a small groan escaping my mouth as some of the stuff fall to the ground. I bend over and pick them up with a shaky hand before storing them with the rest of my things.
A knock at the door makes me spin around anxiously.
"Nervous?" Elizabeth — my nurse and adoptive mother — rests her shoulder against the doorframe and smiles softly.
My mother is American, she moved to Korea a few years back to pursue her studies in nursing. When we met for the first time, we instantly had this undeniable connection and we immediately got along so there wasn't a doubt in her mind when she signed the adoption papers a year after we met. There is not a single day passing by where I'm not grateful to have her around. She's a bundle of joy and brings me this feeling of safety — the kind of feeling when you walk in your house, but I get that feeling whenever I'm around her; even when we're not at home.
I clear my throat and shoot her a quick smile before finally speaking up.
"Of course not, I'm just about to take my second test tomorrow first thing in the morning... what's so stressful about that?" I turn my back to her and zip up my backpack. She scoffs and enters the room before sitting on the edge of my bed. She pats the spot next to her and I sit down, heaving a sigh as my weight bounces on the mattress.
"Come on, now. You'll do good, I'm sure. I'll give you more red serum tonight if you want." she pulls me into a hug and caresses my hair gingerly. I roll my eyes and pull away from her arms.
"Mom, I'm not a kid anymore. I'm at 25% now, don't you think they will notice it straight away?" I look over to her to realize that her gaze is fixated on the ground. She gulps nervously before daring to look at me in the eye.
"Oh, my sweet, sweet girl..." her hand cups my cheek and her thumb gently strokes the surface of my skin. I smile and brush her hand off before standing up to go collect a few things in my bathroom. When I walk back in the bedroom, I see her holding a picture frame, her glossy eyes scanning the photo.
"Mom? Mom, what's wrong?" I hurry and sit down next to her again. She begins to sob softly and hugs me tight. I rub her back in circular motions, only catching up now to what's going on.
She knows I'll test positive. She knows they will give me the purple serum.
One of the main rules in this world is that you can never have the same nurse for your second test, you always have to alternate; meaning my mom won't be in any position to save me if anything happens.
