almost as a last thought. Brenda suggested it quietly,
out of Mama's hearing.
"If things are such that you can get away for a
weekend. April, we'll have you visit. But you've got to
be sure things are okay with Mama first," she said.
"She needs you. You've got to watch over her. I'm
depending on you to do that, and that's why I don't
want you getting yourself into any sort of new trouble.
understand?"
I nodded.
"She's going to be fine," Celia said. "Well call
you," she assured me again.
In the end. I had to smile and kiss her good-bye.
She surprised me by holding on to me and whispering,
"You'll be okay. honey. You'll be okay."
I watched them get into their car, wave, and
&n
bsp; back out of the driveway. They were gone in
moments, and suddenly. I felt cold and realized how
dark and cloudy it had become. Mama had already
retreated from the doorway. I felt like running after
them. I felt like running away.
Those days of wishing time would freeze were
long gone forever for me now. If anything, minutes
took too long to become hours, and hours took too
long to become days. I wished instead that I could
close my eyes and when I opened them. I'd be
Brenda's age, getting into my car and driving off to
college or to anywhere but here.
By the time I walked back into the house.