Code Blue

17

As Callie retreats to the bathroom for a few minutes I close my eyes and sigh.

I can only remember a few times my mother and I would get along.

The timeline is very simple in my eyes.  As a child, ignorance was key. I had no idea who my mother was, just that I should love her.

Our days consisted of her straddling me between her legs to braid my hair. The way she yanked made me surprised that I even had hair left.  After that I made myself toast as she turned on the TV.  The old set was staticky and loud, but I was content.

The pubescent years consisted of me getting my first period at school and completely freaking out. I ran home convinced I was dying. I guess my mom  'forgot' to give me the whole uterus talk. So, when I greeted her with screams of terror she guffawed and gave me the sage words of, "here, just shove it in." followed by a tampon being catapulted at my dropped jaw.

As a teenager, I was always a bit embarrassed to bring boys home. Not only was the house one step up from a mobile home- no, that I could get over. It was my mother flirting with all my boyfriends that always pushed me over the edge.  It came to a point where half the boys I got came solely for my mom. I would like to believe that was the breaking point, but alas. The days were filled with fights, the worst you can imagine. The whole vein popping nine yards.  At night I was alone, the quiet was eerie. It was like standing on a battlefield post annihilation. I used silent nights as a tool. I dove into my studies. The day consisted of work, school, and studying. I worked at a fast food restaurant that primarily served chicken so the house normally smelled like a mix of grease, cigarette smoke, and cheap liquor.

I remember coming home from work one night, cracking my knuckles. Earlier at school I had perfected my essay so it was time to attach it to my application.

I didn't hesitate as I had clicked send. I didn't have a back up plan, it was make something of myself or bust.

The toilet flushes and I'm sent reeling back into reality. Callie rubs her hands against her thighs as she nears me. Her eyes squint a little as she bends down to sit.

"Are you okay?"

"Oh," I such in a breath and let out a dying chuckle, "yeah."

"Hm." Callie makes a noise like she doesn't believe me.

I ignore her and change the subject, "God, this city is expensive."

"You get used to it, unfortunately." Callie replies but I was only half listening. The damage of reminiscing has been done.

"I'm sorry," I stand quickly, "I should go back home.  I don't mean to be rude." I give a half assed smile and turn for the door.

"Oh, yeah of course." Callie still looks concerned.

"I'll see you at work."

I've done a lot of running in my life.  So if my mother wants to find me- I'm ready to fight this time.  I'm not going anywhere.

A/N: sorry for the short chapter- I just couldn't keep you waiting. I also wanted to give a peek in Celia's past.