I sit back on the rickety stool, easily recalling the hypnotic image of her full tits spilling out of her hands and the curve of her tummy as her body bowed. Every inch of her looks so soft and delicious.
It’s a good thing the cameras weren’t working at the time, or I’m not sure even my rock-hard will could resist the urge to see if the one in her bedroom had a better view than mine…
I shake the thought from my head and type “journal article, contains: ‘anti-anxiety meds’ and ‘sexual side effects’” into a search.
8
Madison
There is one person other than Abuela who I can count on.
In the morning, there’s always more activity at Sunset Hills. Residents have more energy, so I see more of them up and about in the hallways. I’ve got my latte in one hand and a bag with two muffins in the other, so I wave my elbow at one lady who I know goes to Mass with Abuela.
When I get to her room, I find Manny helping get her situated in her lounger.
“Hola,Abuela,” I greet.
She smiles when she sees me, the expression lighting up her face.“Ah, mi hija está aquí. Gabriella, ven, siéntate a mi lado—”
I exchange a look with Manny, and he makes an awkward face—both because he doesn’t understand most of what she said, and because he knows what it means when she greets me as Gabriella.
“No, Abuela,” I chide gently. “It’s me, Madison. Your granddaughter.Hijita,remember?” There’s a world of difference betweendaughterandlittle daughterto my Abuela, though I’m all she has left of the girl she loved who died too young. I’d never pretend to be my mother, but I guess the family resemblance is strong enough to be the source of her confusion.
Abuela nods, though it’s an absent gesture, and I can see the confusion in her eyes as she turns back to face the TV. I already miss the smile. “Oh, right.Claro.Madison…”
“She had a hard night last night. She didn’t get much sleep because of that storm,” Manny explains, voice low.
I feel my lips stretch into a thin smile. I’m grateful for the explanation to latch onto, but we both know these episodes have become more frequent in the past few months. “Good to know.”
“I’ll leave you to it, then.” Manny softly closes the door behind him.
“Gabriella, what did you do to your hair?” she chides, scowling at my head.
“I’m Madison, Abuela,” I correct again, just as gently. I place the drink and bag with the treats on her table so I can smooth back the green pieces. “You like it?”
She makes a clicking noise with her tongue and turns away.
“I brought you a treat. A cranberry orange muffin, your favorite.”
“I’m not hungry.”
I swallow, trying again. “Do you want to do a puzzle?”
“No,” she replies shortly, eyes never wavering from the screen.
“How about we go for a—”
“Shh, my programs are on,” she cuts me off.
So it’s going to be one of those days, then. I grab one of the chairs from her table to drag it next to her. I swallow a sigh, raise the volume for her when she thrusts the remote at me, then I put in one of my earphones and start the first chapter of the next audiobook SpyderMan wants me to read.
During a commercial break, she exhales deeply and glances at me sideways, like she wants to say something. I pause the audiobook and take out my earbud.
“I hate it here,mija.”
The pit deep in my stomach that started forming the day I realized she couldn’t live with me anymore gets a little wider to make room for the increase in guilt.
She agreed to this, and I found the best place I could afford, I remind myself. But I can’t help the grumble from slipping out.“Great. Glad I’m paying $8,000 a month for it.”
