Butterfly

Thirty Seven

"Ah, you're working harder now, Mina. Are you resting enough?"

Mom was sitting by my bed, watching my bad attempt at eating my lunch.

I couldn't answer.

Maybe it's because it's awkward to talk to her,

Or maybe it's because my stomach was doing too many flips.

She only sighed and looked around before speaking again.

"You'll be able to go back to school and such soon! My husband and I were talking about getting you a phone so you can go out after school."

I felt my muscles tense a little.

My mom and her husband, not my mom and dad.

I dropped the spoon in the bowl of hardly touched rice.

"Mina,"

Mom looked at me straight in the eyes.

I had never seen that look on her face before.

"If there is anything, anything that's bothering you, please, I want you to know that I want to hear it."

I thought about Hobi and how badly I wanted to use my legs and run up to him.

I thought about the physical therapy and how trying it is.

I thought about how I was literally aching to get out of here.

I thought about how mom was trying so hard to be there for me, even though we both know she keeps falling short.

"There's not much on my mind."

Some things are just better left unsaid.

Whether that was one or not,

I guess I'll find out soon.