Page 67 of Peaches

“Well, I don’t want to worry you.”

“Consider me more than worried!”

“Well, there’s been a development… with Archie.”

My skin breaks out in goosebumps. I feel as if I’m entering an alternative universe waiting for her to elaborate, and yet I can’t even speak, yell, shout for her to hurry up and get to the point so I can breathe again knowing everything is alright.

“He had another seizure.”

I let out a temporary breath and take another one in.

Well, that’s nothing new. It comes with the territory. Level three autism, that is. Actually, all levels are prone to it. It used to frighten me as a kid, but I soon grew to be the only one that could sit with him, besides Mom, and get him through even the toughest ones. I’m hoping this wasn’t a tough one, but by the sounds of the beeping that all of a sudden registers in my brain, (fucking hospitals, I hate hospitals), I am guessing it was.

“A big one, sweetie.”

My eyes cloud with tears as I wait for her to tell me what I fear. That he is gone. That I never got to say goodbye. That I wasn’t there. If I was there, maybe I could’ve helped him, but I wasn’t and now…

“But he’s going to be alright.”

Shit! Way to scare the life out of me, Mom!

“For now, at least.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Well, they found a growth.”What the…“A tumor actually. They’re surprised they haven’t found it before, really.” She lets out a slight laugh designed to take the edge off the fact that they failed at their job,theybeing doctors, but I’m not finding any humor in the situation.

I hate doctors, they’re all the same. Walking on clouds that should be reserved for their patients, thinking their shit doesn’t stink, and misdiagnosing and overlooking more issues than they’d ever admit while their head is insaidclouds.

“Turns out, Archie has what they are calling, Tubrous Sclerosis. It’s relatively common for people with autism,” she trails off.

I don’t speak. I attempt to process what’s been said, at the very least, but it’s all too damn much. Just like I can tell it is for my mother. Her voice is heavy with concern and what I can only assume is lack of food and sleep. But sitting with what she just said a while longer, all it does is make me more confused.

I find myself standing quickly, needing to burn off restless energy that has suddenly exploded into my veins, because what I really want to do is be there and help. Both of them. Any way that I can.

“I’m on my way,” I blurt out as I start to make my way to the back of the room to grab my suitcase.

“Don’t be silly. Archie wouldn’t want you dropping everything and…”

“Mom! Archie doesn’t really ever want anything, besides his favorite video games, Legos or DC comics. But, I. Want. To. Be. There. I need to be there! So don’t tell me no, because I’m coming. And Archie understands why. He always understands why, more than anyone gives him credit for.”

There is silence on the other end of the phone, and I hear my Mom sniffle.

Add my mom to the list of reasons I need to go.

She’s been holding this world on her shoulders alone for longer than she should’ve ever had to. The least I can do is be there. Help him. Help her. Give her maybe some rest so she can wrap her brain around his new diagnosis.

I’ll wrap mine around it later.

But right now, they need me. And my place is with family.

It’s good for people to be around family, I hear the voice of Marie in my head and smile.

It is good, I think to myself, and then feel the tension in my shoulders leave slightly when my mom finally responds.

“Alright, but drive safe! The weather service said this storm that is hitting could be severe. Lots of tornado warnings. I’d rather you get here in one piece than not get here at all.”

Geez, how many times have I heard my mother say that over the years.I smile as I throw my suitcase on the bed and let her words warm my heart.Once a parent, always a parent,as they say.

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