“I’m sorry. I’m sure she doesn’t mean it.”
“It’s not the first time she’s left, but it’s been three days.” Charlotte turns to face me with wide eyes. “Do you think I should look for her?”
What did I know about adult problems? My parents are happily married and rarely fight. Surprisingly, Dad is super nice to Mom all the time. He even treats Adriana like a princess. I’m the one he likes to pick on. But this isn’t about me. Something about Charlotte’s sadness stirs something unknown inside me. Almost like I need to protect her.
“It will work out. Whatever is meant to be will be. This isn’t your fault, okay?”
Charlotte’s lips begin to tremble, and even when I try to ignore how sad this little girl is right now over what appears to be a selfish mother, I can’t seem to walk away and leave her alone.
I’m not sure why I pull my comic book out of the brown paper bag, but I do so to avoid any further conversations about her family.
She tilts her head while sniffing, then draws her brows upon noticing the comic book.
“I love Batman.” Charlotte smiles, though it's soft and not eager like my sister when she’s vying for something of mine. “My dad took my sister and me to a convention in San Diego last year, and it was so much fun. I got to see the real Batmobile.”
“You’re lucky. I’ve always wanted to go. My dad would never take me to such a thing unless it was a bunch of doctors doing boring stuff.”
Charlotte purses her lips. “Maybe, if my parents are both here for Christmas, I can ask them for a comic book just like this. Dad has been working a lot too, but he says it’s because we need money. Maybe it’s a bad idea to ask then.”
My gaze is steady on the comic resting in my hands. Back at the store, the excitement of owning it and going against my dad was the reason for the impulse purchase.
But the longer I sit beside Charlotte, the more uncomfortable the tightness in my throat becomes. Then, I swallow the lump and know exactly what I need to do.
I extend my hand toward her. “Here, it’s yours.”
Charlotte's head flinches back slightly. “Mine?”
“Yeah, I’ve got plenty more comics in my future. You take it home.”
Her small fingers reach out to take it from me, followed by eyes shining bright and her entire face lighting up with joy.
“Thank you, Alex,” she whispers.
Standing up, I wipe the dirt off my sweats with a grin. I’m unable to hold back from doing something to make her happy. “Anytime, kid.”
FIVE
The time when I moved back home
The sharp pain in my neck shoots up the back of my head when I move from the awkward position I find myself in.
Another day, another long night of studying.
The bad luck started when my alarm didn’t go off at four this morning because of a blackout during the night. The early wake-up call was because we had to make the three-hour drive home with a U-Haul carrying most of our belongings from our one-bedroom apartment.
I’d finally convinced Sammy to move back to Carmel so I can work alongside my dad. She wasn’t impressed when we weren’t even an hour here, and Dad called me because the hospital was chaotic today.
It shouldn’t have been a big deal until my body grew weary of the constant running around after idiotic patients who decided today was the day to take themselves to the ER. One woman stabbed herself with a sewing needle, which wasn’t a big deal, but her fainting stressed out her husband who brought her in.
Then, there was the moron who decided to use his chainsaw while standing on a ladder. Lucky for him, the only thing he lost was his baby toe.
Dad sent me home when things quieted down, but it wasn’t like I could rest. Sammy insisted I unpack, and my reluctance resulted in an argument before dinner.
The stress continues to mount, and so does the stupid pain inside my neck while I try to get some much-needed studying done.
Warm hands press against my shoulders as I close my eyes and welcome the relaxing massage.
“I’m sorry about before.”