MY MOM DOESN’T LIKE YOU
“My mom said we can’t see each other anymore. She doesn’t like you or your mom. She said you were bad for me. She said you were the reason I was sick. She said you were the reason my life was about to change.
“When she found the photograph that your mom took of us, she took it away, and now it’s gone. It was my favorite picture.
“My mom isn’t happy anymore; she isn’t like my mom was before. She doesn't smile and her eyes aren't as large as they used to be. Her words are mean and she stopped giving me hugs and kisses. She hit me when she found the photograph, and I don’t understand why. When I asked her to stop, her cheeks turned red and she walked away. I'm afraid she'll hurt me again.
“I was so excited to show her a picture of my best friend. I told her I wanted us to move to your house so we could play together every day. I said it was because I missed you when we weren’t together. That’s when she stopped responding and started crying.
“My mom is taking me to a special doctor tomorrow. She said he’s going to fix me. But I don't think there's anything wrong with me. Do you?”
“I think you’re perfect, Chloe,” he says, smiling.
“When I asked her why we had to go to a special doctor, she said it was so I wouldn’t have to miss you anymore. I'm not sure what that means, but I don't like the sound of it.”
“Chloe, don’t worry about your mom,” he says. “We’re best friends forever, and nothing can stop that.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder. “Wait right here. I’m going to get something for you.”
He runs into his house and comes back right away. He looks scared and worried for me. Should I be scared and worried for me, too?
“Here, Chloe. Take this locket. Promise you’ll hold on to it, and that you won’t ever lose it. Do you promise?” he asks.
I open the shiny gold necklace. I see a picture of two people I don’t know. They’re standing in a dark place, in front of a weird-looking rock. I’m not sure what’s so important about this necklace, but I’ll keep it safe.
“I promise I’ll never lose it,” I say, holding it up to my heart.
“I’ll miss you, Chloe,” he says with sad eyes.
Why does he sound like he’s saying good-bye? I don’t want to say good-bye.
“Honey, you can always come back over here and play whenever you want,” his mom says as she gives me a big hug.
Why is everyone crying? It doesn’t make sense.
***
This doctor’s office is scary. It smells bad, and I don’t like the people walking around. They’re scary too. I don’t like the way my mom is telling me not to worry. I don’t understand why she thinks she has to fix me.
There’s nothing wrong with me.
We’re waiting in a room with four white walls and three metal chairs. It’s a strange doctor’s office…it doesn’t have any doctor’s kits or lollipops. I have a bad pain in my tummy, and my heart feels as if it’s moving too fast.
A man walks into the room. He looks back and forth between my mom and me. “Hello, Chloe,” he says. “I’m going to make you all better.” He’s a strange-looking man with shiny black hair and dark eyes. He doesn’t look like a doctor. He isn’t even wearing a white doctor’s coat.
“I’ll be right back, sweetie. Tomas will take good care of you,” my mom says as she walks out the door.
Why is she leaving me here with this man? I don’t want to be alone with him.
The man sits down in one of the metal chairs next to me and shifts his body to look at me. “Everything is going to be okay now.” He places his cold hand on my back. It makes me shiver. “Most people call me Tomas, but you can call me Franco,” he says with a friendly smile.
I guess he’s kind of nice. I’ve never met anyone with two first names before. Maybe this won’t be so bad.
“Chloe, would you like a special juice drink?” he asks.
I like juice, and I’m thirsty. “Okay,” I say.
He hands me a small plastic cup with a red liquid. It tastes like strawberry…but it also tastes like cold medicine. The icky kind. He only gave me a little bit, so I finish it with one big gulp.
He pats my back after I return the cup. “Good girl, Chloe. That should fix all of your problems.” He says it with a smile that doesn’t look so friendly anymore.
“I don’t have any problems, Tomas…I mean Franco,” I say.
Franco kneels in front of me and rests his arms over my shaking knees. “Chloe, I need you to close your eyes and repeat after me. Ten…nine…eight…seven…”
“Ten…nine…eight…seven…”
I don’t like this.
It’s too dark.
