𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔹𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕣𝕤

𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕪-𝕤𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕟

(TW: mention of past death, disordered eating, mention of pills (pain meds))

According to the doctor, I'm not supposed to go back to school for about a week. So, the next day, I wake up to the house being completely quiet for the first time in months. I pull myself out of bed to see that Medda had already gotten my pain meds ready on my nightstand. I slip the pill into my mouth, taking a small sip of water to wash it down.

Slowly making my way downstairs, I look around the empty house.Jack and Charlie are at school and Medda's at work, so I'll be alone for the next few hours. The idea makes me uneasy. I spread out on the couch, turning on the TV. What was that show that Charlie wanted me to watch? Glee? I shrug and go to Netflix, turning on the show.

I'm not sure how long I was sitting in front of the TV, but I eventually hear the mail truck outside. Groaning, I pull myself off of the couch and slip on some shoes to get the mail. It's colder than I was expecting it to be, but I brush off the chills and head to the mailbox. It's mostly just junk mail and bills.

I bring the mail inside and set it on the counter. It's just now that I see a note from Medda.

"Remember to eat something, honey! It's important and it'll help you recover faster.
Love you <3
-Mom"

Reading the note made me realize that I've never called her "Mom." Despite living with her for over half a year, I've never done it. Shit, it's already been over half a year? It doesn't feel like that long.

It never felt right to call her "Mom." Especially considering that I'm only a foster kid, and I could be sent to another house at any given moment. She hasn't officially adopted me yet. My mom....my real mom....

Tears prick my eyes as I run my thumb over her locket. I haven't been able to stop thinking about that day. The one where she passed.

I swallow and look back at the note. The thought of eating something made me feel sick. But Medda will be disappointed in you if you don't eat something. She'll hate you.

Reluctantly, my feet carry me to the pantry. I scan the shelves, looking for something small. I pull a granola bar out of a box and leave the pantry. I take a deep breath as I open the packaging. Nope. Can't do this. I slam the granola bar on the counter and go back to my room. Scanning my room, I grab my headphones and turn them on, laying on my bed. I open Spotify to see the playlist that Al made for me. It's full of the songs that we listened to that night. I press play and rest my head against the wall.

~time skip owo~

The door to my room clicks, and Charlie is standing in the doorway with a bag.

"I brought you your schoolwork." He sets down the bag on my desk chair. "Are you feelin' any better?" I nod. Pain meds do wonders. "Good! Have you eaten?" A few moments of silence pass. "I'm gonna take that as a no..."

"Guilty as charged." I turn my whole body to my brother. It's weird how I can't think of Medda as my mom, but I can easily think of Jack and Charlie as my brothers.

"Toni-"

"Don't." I bark. He lowers his eyes and nods.

"Sorry..."

"It's fine." I run a hand through my hair. "I just...don't like talking about it."

"That's fine, I understand." He smiles before leaving my room. I stare at the bag. I guess teachers don't care that I just had a major surgery two days ago. Rolling my eyes, I head over to my desk and get to work.