Page 97 of Her Sloth

“You better not,” I say threateningly.

We talk and joke all afternoon.

Ahmed and Blair join.

And suddenly the entire family is here.

We steal more chairs, and then everyone sits around Addy’s bed. I sit by her side and look into the room.

My family.

Who came without question.

Who stuck with me.

Who stuck with her.

Who stuck with us.

A wide grin appears on my face.

“To family,” I say and lift my second beer.

“To family,” they all say.

My free hand wanders onto Addy’s.

I squeeze it and risk one small glance before I drink.

She grins as broadly as I do, as the real Addy.

No role.

No pretend.

Just her.

Me.

Us.

25

AUDREY

PLAYLIST: DIAMONDS – RIHANNA

Cass parks the car in the Four Seasons garage, opens the door for me and helps me out of the car.

She fusses around me like a mama bear.

Part of me wants it. The bigger part finds it obscene and is repulsed.

No one has ever mothered me, least of all my own mother.

“It’s okay,” I tell her as she grabs under my arm to walk me to the elevator. “You don’t have to⁠—“

“The doctors said rest and keep it slow.”