Chloe stayed near the door, and for once, she wasn’t looking at her phone. My mother reached out to hold my hand but pulled back when she saw the IV lines. She told me that I should have told them it was that bad.
Even in my drugged state, I understood exactly what she was doing. She was moving the blame away from herself and rearranging the narrative before I could tell my side. She was telling me that I should have spoken up, rather than admitting they should have listened.
I turned my head away from her, and she sighed with irritation. Jordan entered the room then, and my mother immediately changed her tone to one of deep concern. She told the nurse that they had been there the entire time.
It was a lie so smooth it almost sounded like the truth. Jordan didn’t say anything, but I could tell by his expression that he had seen through the act. After they left, I cried silently because my throat was too raw to make any sound.
Jordan waited until the room was quiet before he sat down next to me. He asked me directly if I felt safe with my family. It was the first time an adult had ever asked me that question with the intent of actually hearing the answer.