Novocain

Chapter Five

A knock sounded at the door. Marceline Anne huffed. She was exhausted from her rounds of intensive meds and just wanted to rest. But whoever it was didn't deserve for her to snap at them. "Come in!"

The door opened to reveal Michael the Fourth. "Hello."

"Hello." She returned coolly.

He sighed lightly. "Can we talk?"

"About?"

"Mercedes Catherine."

"Why?"

"I know you're probably still angry with us for what we did to you-"

"Say it with your chest. You were bold enough to do it, keep the same energy."

"We were only trying to help."

"Were you?"

He sighed again. "I'm not holding out hope on you forgiving me. I'm not a loss to you. But Mercedes Catherine is in shambles thinking you hate her. I know that can't be true-"

"It's not."

He brightened. "It's not?"

"No. I don't hate her. I'm done with her."

His shoulders slumped. "But she's your sister."

"Blood means nothing to me. You have to prove yourself and she proved something alright."

"She didn't want you to die!"

"I did die!"

He looked away, not having a comeback.

"You're so stuck on being her Superman that common sense left the building. I made the choice to be a mother. I made the choice to be a mom. I made the choice to see my children live even if that meant I wouldn't.

I'm sure your mother would do the same.

I knew the risks when the tumor was found. I might have lost it a bit at the end but forgive me for not wanting to cry and scream and act like a fucking maniac just because I was dying when I made the choice to do so.

I had so many hormones pumping through my body and I just wanted to enjoy life. For once. I wanted to enjoy my pregnancy, my husband, my family, my friends.

But you couldn't let me do that, could you? It wasn't about you and you took something that was wholly about me and made it about you."

He swallowed hard, letting her words soak in. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. If that had been your last experience,- I'm sorry."

She stared at him.

"Has anyone even asked how it was for you in there?"

"No."

"I'm asking."

"It's the same as any other asylum."

"That wasn't your first time?"

"No."

"So she knew you wouldn't be happy in one?"

"Yes."

That messed him up.

"Look, I don't want your brother to have to choose between us-"

"He should choose you."

"Michael,-"

"He will choose you." He was deathly serious. "You don't have to forgive any of us but I want you to know I'm sorry for my part in hurting you. But you were wrong."