Blue

Chapter 3: Trips down memory lane

Dear Teal,

Today is your fifteenth birthday and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy seeing you smile.

You don't smile very often though.

- C

*~*

My mind lingered on the memory as I twisted the ring around my finger.

"How did you sleep? Alright?" I turned to look at Mom. I still couldn't believe the huge contrast from her in the memory and her here, sitting with me now. She looked worried, but a strained smile showed on her lips.

"I could have slept better." I was reminded of the dream I had last night and looked away. If I could supress any memory, last nights' would definitely be it.

"Did that nightmare keep you up all night? Because if it did, I can leave and you can sleep." She said hastily, her hand leaning over to grab her items.

"No!" I shouted. Mom suddenly flinched, her eyes trained on me, wide and startled. "I mean, don't go. I only have about an hour and a half before I have therapy or something."

"Are you sure? Rest is very important." Finally I could detect an ounce of motherly strictness in her voice.

"I know, but I'm not tired."

Mom gave me a dubious look as if she didn't believe me but didn't comment.

*~*

Despite me thinking that we had nothing to talk about, we talked enough that the hour went by quickly. Our subjects were eased away from school our the recent incident that the whole conversation ran smoothly.

The tension that hovered in the air had dispersed for which I was thankful for. Though I didn't have any sense of normality around her, I hated that my body was tense and my eyes watched her with wariness, almost as if I exoected her to breakdown. But to be fair, she was acting exactly the same way toward me.

"I hope they make a park near the golf course, it's such a lovely place and it's so green." I smiled, playing with a fray on the edge of the blanket.

"I hope so too, but they haven't made any decisions yet. Maybe I could ask them." I glanced at Mom as she stared at me.

"Miss Moore?" My gaze swapped to a neat looking nurse that wore an ironed blue uniform. She was pushing a black wheelchair in front of her.

"Yes?" My mother and I said simultaneously. We looked at eachother and she smiled.

"I'm nurse Dorine, your daughter is scheduled in to see Dr. Alexson. I'm here to take Teal." She directed to Mom.

"Oh, okay. May I ask what Dr. Alexson would like to do with my daughter?" Mom stood up and shifted closer to the bed. I stared at her with disbelief at her show of protectiveness.

"Dr. Alexson is a trained psychiatrist, Teal is scheduled in for a visit in about," Dorine checked the golden watch that was wrapped around her wrist. "Five minutes."

Mom quickly moved aside and the nurse shifted to fold the blankets away from me. I brushed her hands away.

"I'm not dying." I muttered. I didn't notice the sharp intake of my Mom. "I'd like to get out of bed myself."

And I did.

My bones ached with pain with each movement and a deep shiver was set in me when the blankets were completely thrown off, but I managed to handle myself into the chair. The IV was taken down and placed on a hook that was beside and above me.

Mom looked down at me worriedly but didn't speak. I held onto the armrest and gave Mom a reassuring smile as I placed my feet on the footrest below me.