- 7.
When they left, Mom and I walked them to the
hospital entrance.
On the way back, I talked to Mom for a while,
where no one could hear.
After getting her support, I went back to the
room and started apologizing.
“Dad, Annabelle, I’m sorry.
Mom told me I was wrong. In a life–or–death
situation, I shouldn’t have been selfish.
<
As a firefighter’s family, we should be
generous.”
Dad stared, then smiled.
Annabelle said nothing, but her daughter got
bold, throwing something at me.
“It’s all your fault. If you’d gotten us, Mom
and I wouldn’t be hurt.
Can you live with yourself? I’m 19, my life was
just starting, but I almost lost my face!”
I hid my anger and stood up, quickly walking
to Cindy.
She flinched. “What do you want?”
Lreached for her she dedged hitting ber
<
I reached for her, she dodged, hitting her
wound, and cried.
“Lily! What are you doing?”
I grabbed the water pitcher.
Then, I innocently looked at Dad. “I’m going to
take care of you, to make up for it.
Cindy, why are you so nervous? I just wanted
the pitcher.”
Leaving the room, I smiled.
I was going to torture them for a while.
I dutifully cared for them, but things often
went wrong.
く
I poured hot water on Annabelle’s burn, and
scratched Cindy’s wounds.
I tripped, kicking Dad’s bad leg.
In three days, all three of them were howling
in pain.
“Hey, Annabelle, what’s wrong? You look
pale.”
I didn’t see anything. A few minutes later, I
gasped.
“Oh no, Annabelle, don’t move! You pulled out
your oxygen tube!”
After I put it back on, Annabelle turned red.
She took a deep breath and looked at Dad.
く
“Lily should go home…
She’s too young, she doesn’t know how to
take care of people.”
I laughed and started to cry.
“Annabelle, are you blaming me?
I’m helping you because of me.”
Dad exploded. “I told you, be generous!
Why are you so selfish?”
I ignored him and took Annabelle’s hand.
“Annabelle, Dad broke his leg saving you. He
might not recover.
Can you give him an award? And do a TV
interview?”
Dad was quiet.
“Please, I just want him to get promoted.
Otherwise, I don’t know what to do.”
Annabelle and Dad looked at each other, then
nodded.
I smiled.
The deadbeat wanted to be famous.
Dream on.
