The Hidden Truth

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Study Time

At about a quarter to five in the morning I start to hear noises coming from upstairs. After I left her room last night I made sure to close the door. I wasn’t quite for sure if her sensitivity was in fact an issue or not. Seeing Carol's signature on the paper to look at her medical file however had me curious. Then when she opened up the car door yesterday without a problem, I wondered about it. So I needed to test the girl to determine just how much is a factor, if any at all. As the minutes continue to slip by, she doesn't so much as make an entrance into the kitchen. When an hour has come and gone, I head up the stairs to check on her. 

She’s sitting in the middle of her full sized bed as if she's waiting on me. I looked around noticing that in the time I had been sitting at the table drinking coffee waiting for her, she had made her bed, emptied her bag, folded it nicely and placed it on the floor between the wall and the dresser. The only thing she didn’t manage to do was change her clothes. She still had on the same khaki pleated skirt and navy blue polo shirt along with the dark colored tights she wore when I picked her up from the group home. The only thing missing was the black shoes which were now nicely tucked under her dresser. I turn back to her as I say, “How about you clean up while I make you some breakfast.”

She nods and jumps off the bed heading straight for the dresser. I watch as again she has no trouble whatsoever opening the drawers before stepping out into the hallway to grab her a towel and a washcloth from the linen closet just outside the bathroom. Obviously her sensitivity isn't an obstacle I need to worry about as I place the items on the countertop in the bathroom. Hoping that she’ll at least take a shower before joining me downstairs. Afterwards I return to the kitchen table to wait.  

Although Justice erased my sister's existence from her body I doubted that it had any effect on the taste buds. About ten minutes after I heard the water running in the shower I got to work on creating her favorite pancakes. Since my sister couldn't tolerate animal products that also included eggs so I substituted them for flaxseed. I grounded up some and added it to the batter while tossing in a few blueberries for a bit of moisture. Aside from the few I place on top at the end, my sister never liked to add anything more. 

Just as I finish sprinkling a few blueberries on the top of the pancakes she comes waltzing into the room. Dressed in a short sleeve t-shirt and jeans down to the sporty little tennis shoes on her feet. I almost couldn't believe my eyes as well as unable to stop my mouth from asking, “Is that what you plan on wearing today?”

She pauses and stares at me as if she's a deer caught in the headlights. “It’s my weekend clothes.” she replies shyly.

When I picked her up from the group home yesterday her attire was similar to the clothing my sister always liked to wear. It didn't occur to me that the outfit could have been a school uniform. Without wanting to confuse the poor girl any more I respond, “Nevermind, just eat your pancakes before they get cold.”

She then climbs onto the stool in front of the stove where I placed her plate and asks, “Do you have any syrup?”  

I stare at her for a few seconds before catching myself and replying, “Sorry, I...I don't.” 

She gazes at the plate then back at me as she asks, “What about jam or jelly?”

Again I’m shocked as I answer, “No.”

She returns her sight to the plate as if she's thinking some more before returning her eyes to me and questioning, “How about honey or whip cream?”

I couldn't bear the thought of repeating myself any more so I shook my head, sighing. I didn't realize that removing my sister’s memories from her body would change everything this much. I knew one day that she would eventually undergo major life changes but everything about this girl is the complete opposite. I don't know if I can handle all of this knowing that every time I look at her in the face that my little sister is indeed gone.