They Walk

Chapter Eighty Two

We’re all silent and still thinking about what Kelli just told us. I know what it means to me, and it’s not good at all. If my mom can’t get out of bed, then how can she leave with us when we go to the border? And for that matter, should we even take the chance in going and leaving her here?

I’m about to go on a tangent, when my dad breaks the silence.

“What was all the commotion about out in the hall?”

Me, Gabe and Dan share a look, almost trying to decide if we should tell them. They’ll find out soon enough though. Gabe and I have done enough sharing and we both stay quiet and let Dan have this one.

“Randy got everyone together to tell them about the bombs that are going off tomorrow.”

Both of my parents nod, since it’s kind of a given that we told the others and that they wouldn’t exactly take it all that well. From behind us on the other side of the room, I hear a gasp, and that’s when I remember that Maria is still in the room with us. Dan does to, and gives her an apologetic expression as he continues.

“He’s not sure how safe the tunnels are down here, during an attack, so he gave everyone the option of staying or leaving.”

The room is plunged into silence again, as my dad and mom share a look that I can’t read, before she sighs and closes her eyes. When she opens them again, she looks between Dan and I, while seeming sad and mournful at the same time. She gives my hand a squeeze, and I already have an argument at the ready for what I know she is about to tell us.

“You and your brother need to leave with those that choose to go.”

I’m shaking my head by the time she is done, and so is Dan.

“Mom, no it’s alright. We can stay here with you and dad.”

She sighs again, and gives me her famous resolve face. This would be the time that I’d try to convince dad to make her see reason, but I know they agree on this already.

“Listen to me Maggie, your brother just said it might not be safe here and I want you both to leave.”

“Well, you listen to me, if you can’t get out of bed to come with us, then we’re not going. That’s final.”

I can feel the tension in the room like a bad taste in my mouth, and I know I shouldn’t argue with her, but I can’t lose her again. It’s just not happening. But the way she looks from me to Dan, I know she’s not going to cave and I really know she won’t stop until we are convinced about leaving.

“Maggie, I don’t want you and your brother to risk it by staying here. You’ve already risked too much by coming for your father and I. Your father and I already agreed that we want what is best for you, and that is for you to have a future.”

I’m practically sobbing now, and when she pulls me and Dan both closer to her, I know we don’t have a choice anymore and that we have to listen to her. Even if I don’t want to listen, I know she is right and so does Dan, but it doesn’t make it any easier though.

Almost an hour later, I still regret my decision to listen to my mom, which has been the case for years I suppose. And even as I lay beside her on the cot while she rests and plays with my hair at the same time, my heart feels like it’s breaking. I could change my mind and refuse to leave, but I know her and my dad both would never forgive me. Plus I think Dan caved sooner than I did, and would do whatever they told him too.

Gabe went to help Maria and Michael with getting their belongings, while Dan and I stay with my parents. Kelli came back in the room shortly after they left, and is now hovering near my mom and checking her stats. She told us when she first came in that Randy is distributing weapons and supplies for those who are leaving. She also told us that more than half are staying.

Everyone is in a hushed sense of despair over it all and is hiding out in their rooms. Everyone knows that life won’t be the same after this, and that the dead were one thing, but bombs can destroy everything on the surface. Who knows what life will be like when all is said and done.

Dan and my dad have been discussing something on the other side of the room, while my mom and I just lay here. I can’t hear what they say, but from the way Dan keeps getting more and grimmer, I know dad is giving him the whole ‘you’re the man of the family now and you have to take care of your sister’, which isn’t very fair. I’ve don’t my own share of protecting haven’t I? I mean sure, I’ve also needed saving a time or two, but I’ve proven that I’m somewhat of a survivor in more ways than one. I know I’m mentally going on a tangent over something ridiculous, but it keeps my mind off of what is coming.

After I was finally convinced to leave with everyone, I couldn’t stop crying and that is when I got into bed with my mom. Since then, we’ve just been quietly lying here, and when she began to play with my hair I almost lost it again. I had to force myself to stay calm though, I wouldn’t be able to stop a second time. There are too many memories in which my mom holds me and plays with my hair to make me calm, and I pray this won’t be the last.

Sighing, I pull away and sit up making her hand fall from me. Now she sighs, and starts to look irritated that I might argue again, so I stop her with a raised hand before she can even utter a word. “After the bombs stop, I want you to know that I am coming back for you. I don’t care how long it takes me, I’m doing it.”

I give her my own resolve face now, and she smiles up at me.

“I know how stubborn you are Magdalena, and I also know it won’t do me any good to try a counter attack on this, so I won’t.”

I’m speechless suddenly, because she agrees with me? I must look really confused, and she laughs softly and tries to stay as still as she can.

“I just want you and your brother safe during all this. I know you’ll find us again and everything will be fine. I just don’t want you to worry about me, alright?”

I get interrupted when Dan and our dad come back over to the bed and join us again. Dad takes a seat in a chair on the side of the bed, while Dan sits on her other side on the bed and they both look rather subdued.

“We’re still going to worry about you guys no matter what mom, we love you too much not too.” Dan says in a small voice.

Kelli had been digging through a drawer looking for something and must have found it when she too joins us now. She has a small vile of liquid in one hand and a syringe in the other. When we look at her in alarm, she tells us it’s just a sedative, and that my mom needs her rest, aka. Get a move on and say your goodbyes. My mom reaches up then with a strength I didn’t think she had right now, and pull Dan and I in for a tight hug.

“You two take care of each other, do you hear me? And be safe and strong.”

She pulls back with tears in her eyes, and I have to turn away and bite my lip so I didn’t have to see her. I would be so done for. Dan doesn’t have as much luck though, and I can hear him crying, or maybe it’s my dad I hear because he is crying too. I take deep breathes and ignore it all and try to do what she says and be strong.

Where is Gabe when I need him?

Kelli steps close to my mom then, and sticks the now filled syringe into the IV clip already in her hand and releases the liquid into her. By the time Kelli is already backing up looking apologetic, my mom is already drooping her eyes. With a heavy heart, I lean forward and place a soft kiss on my mom’s temple and when I lean back she is sound asleep. Dan and I stand up at the same time, and our dad walks us to the door.

He hugs us both quickly before going back to sit with mom.

With one last look at my parents, I have a moment where my head throbs to the point where I stumble to a stop. Watching my parents together, I can almost see another image over them, like a double image of them. Instead of lying down or sitting, they are standing up and clinging to one another. They seem sad, and are sobbing over something I can’t see or don’t want to see.

Then they look up at me, and their lips move, but I can’t hear what is being said.

I feel myself moving to the double image, when there is a popping sound in my head, and the image is gone. Breathing heavy, I glance away from them, who seem oblivious for my mental moment; not Dan though. He is giving me a strange look that only a brother can give to a sister he cares for, but I shake my head; I have no clue how to explain what I just saw. So, I walk from the room with Dan by my side, and can’t stop the unsettling feeling that this will be the last time I ever see them.

I have to force my legs to move as my entire body goes numb of feeling.