Page 3 of Nathan
I didn’t say a word as I went to lie down beside River with my eyes moist and my chest heavy from Conor’s disappointment weighing me down.
“I hate snakes,” I whispered low.
“Me too.”
We were silent for a long moment before she took my hand again. “Don’t worry, Nathan. I won’t let any snakes harm you.”
“There’s something wrong with my head,” I admitted in shame.
“Mine too, but we can’t give up. Conor will help us. He’s the cleverest man there is.”
“At least you don’t see snakes,” I whispered.
“Sometimes, I do.”
I turned my head. “You do?”
River chewed on her lips again. “I wish I didn’t, but with my mum being crazy, I can’t help it.”
Turning my body to River, I stared at her. “Be honest! Did you see the yellow snake in my bed just now?”
River’s eyebrows drew close and formed a small triangle above her nose. “Maybe.”
“It’s a yes or no answer. Did you see the snake?”
River fiddled with one of her blond locks and nodded slowly.
My heart filled with both relief and pity as I breathed, “I’m sorry.”
Her large brown eyes filled up with tears. “I’ll end up in a mental hospital like my mum, won’t I?”
“I don’t know,” I whispered and tried to swallow the large knot of emotions in my throat.
“I want you to make me a promise.” River’s voice was brittle, and it made me stroke my thumb across the back of her hand in comfort.
“Nathan, promise that we won’t end up like our mums. Promise that you’ll never kill yourself and that I won’t end up in the psychiatric hospital.”
With an earnest expression, I looked deep into her eyes. “That will never happen!”
“How do you know?”
“Because we’re going to stick together. Always!”
River sighed and cuddled up against me. “I like that. So, if I behave like a crazy person, you’ll tell me to stop, and if you get depressed, I’ll cheer you up.”
“Something like that.”
“I can do that.” Her lips tugged up in a faint smile. “When I grow up, I want to be beautiful, successful, rich, and happy. What about you?”
I thought about it. “I want to be a soldier like my dad. I’ll save and protect people.”
River yawned. “I bet you’ll be good at it, Nathan. I always feel safe with you.” She closed her eyes and went back to sleep, and with a last look to my bed across the room, I closed my eyes too, hoping that the snake wouldn’t return for me.
