Finished
Testing finished on a Tuesday, which Esther thought was weird. Nothing about the school systems timing made sense to her.
Oscar laid his head on her lap as she played with his hair. “Feel better?” She asked.
“Much of that and I will be asleep.”
“You’ve had a stressful two weeks.” She corrected herself, “two and a half weeks almost.”
In no time flat, he was asleep. She continued rubbing his hair. He looked so peaceful lying in her lap. She moved from his hair to his face. She enjoyed the smoothness and warmth of his skin. After about half an hour, she eased off the couch letting him nap.
Dear God, what was she doing? What if the outcome of the thing was bad? She’d never get to hold him again. Should she go back in there and hold him until her arms ached?
She stood staring into the fridge, wondering what she could fix for dinner? But her mind kept wondering back to the subject of why she was here. Images scrambled inside her mind. Images she couldn’t control. The opened freezer air washed over her. “Dear God please, take it away.” She whispered.
She finally shut the fridge and turned to rummage through the cabinets.
Oscar was standing behind her. He looked sad. She put her arms around him as tightly as she could. “I wish you could talk to me.” He kissed the top of her head.
“It’s the same ole story. I’m scared.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“No.”
“How would you like to go to the prom?”
She moved so that she could make eye contact. “The prom?”
“I’ve been asked to chaperone. And I would be honored if you’d be my date.” He smiled.
“What do adults wear to the prom?”
“I’m just gonna wear a suit.”
“Mr. Patterson,” she smiled. “I would be honored. When is the prom?”
“Next Saturday.”
“What do you want for dinner?”
“Honestly?”
“Of course.”
“Nothing.”
“Okay,” she shrugged her shoulders.
He was shocked; she wasn’t going to fight with him about it.
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