This is the fifteenth part in a series, so if you have not already done so, you might want to read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI, Part XII, Part XIII, and Part XIV before continuing.
“You OK?” Mom asks as soon as we get in the car. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I almost laugh at how spot on she is, even if it’s just a throwaway comment she assumes couldn’t possibly have any bearing on reality.
“I’m not feeling great. Can we go home?”
“Of course,” Mom says as she starts the car.
I focus on taking deep breaths, and the idea of going home and curling up in front of the TV to binge something mindless calms me.
Then I make the mistake of looking out my window and into the rearview mirror, where I see Addie sitting behind me.
If it hadn’t been for my seatbelt, I would have flown out of my seat. Instead I just flail about and scream, “What the fuck!”
My mom slams on the brake, and I flail about some more as a result of the sudden deceleration.
“Jessica!”
“Sorry! I’m sorry, there was … um, there was a bee. There’s a bee in the car and I hate bees.” I open my car door and make a show of shooing an imaginary bee out the door.
I close the door and look back at Mom, trying to smile reassuringly. I don’t think it works because my mom gives me a look like she doesn’t even know who I am anymore.
“Geese you’re really not feeling well, are you?” she says as she resumes driving, this time a few miles below the speed limit.
I know I probably shouldn’t look in the rearview mirror again, but I can’t resist. Maybe she vanished in all the hullabaloo.
Nope. She’s still there. And she’s still glaring at me.
Dammit. When I saw her with her mom I had hoped she would stay there, that I could sort of pass her off and finally be rid of her.
I look at the mirror and mouth, “Why are you still here?”
She sticks her tongue out at me.
To be continued…