Page 15 of Beyond The Maples
The next morning I wake up to clanging in the kitchen. I stretch and look over at Willow's bed. It's not made, and her books are strewn all over the place, like she had fallen asleep on top of a random pile of them. I smile. Willow is a hurricane. Sometimes it stresses me out to share a room with her, but considering last night's news, all I feel is a tug of sentimental affection in my chest.
How many more mornings would I get to wake up to this? I hear Linden and Willow arguing about something and then a thud. I resign to getting up and mediating whatever disaster was going on in the kitchen before our precious few items are destroyed. I pull on my warmer clothes. It's always chilly in the morning. The climate is a desert here, more so than it was when I was younger, warm during the day but the nights become freezing.
I finally stumble into the kitchen to find my sister attempting to make us breakfast. She must have taken a few pointers from Marta when she was doing homework at the diner, because it actually doesn't smell half bad in here.
"What's going on?" I say, eyeing my sister as she scurries around the kitchen.
"I'm trying to be helpful," Willow replies without making eye contact with me.
Linden brings over a cup of tea, giving me a sympathetic look. I realize what's happened instantly.
"You told her?" I bark.
"You know I can't keep a secret," he grits back.
"I can't believe you. I wanted to get organized first. Make sure we had a plan."
"It's not like it would have made a difference," Linden huffs, throwing his hands up.
"You two know I am literally right here, right?" Willow says, folding her slender arms as she glares at her older siblings.
She's staring at me likesheis the adult here. Like she's disappointed. Angry. When I make full eye contact with my little sister, her chin wobbles. Anger always comes first with Willow. It's easier than feeling hurt. It's honestly probably something she learned from me.
I walk over to her and pull her into my arms. She melts into me, tears falling over her freckled face.
"Linden told me everything. There has to be another way... I can work." She says this through gasps of air.
"Aww bug, is that why you're trying to make breakfast? To prove something?" I pull her little head back so I can see her face, the sobs muffling her responses, and her face shoves back into my shirt, using it for a napkin. Finally, Willow looks back up and nods.
"I... I... I can help. And I don't even need the medication really that much anymore anyway, we can spread it out more. I swear. You. can't. go." She says the last bit wiping her nose with her sleeve, which would be really gross under any other circumstance, but seeing her so distraught counteracts any emotion other than concern right now.
"Shhhh. Nothing is set in stone yet. There's a lot to do before we get to that point." I'm lying through my teeth, but I need her to breathe. "Can you just take some deep breaths and relax for me, Will?" I start rubbing circles on my sister's back, trying to calm her down.
A panic attack for Willow means something very different than it does for most people. Willow's lungs are weak, easily irritated. The medication keeps them clear, and keeps the liquid from piling up and drowning her, but I'm never sure how this might affect her. Soon Willow's breaths slow. The raspy rattle's still there, but it isn't as overwhelming.
Willow turns back towards to the kitchen. I face our brother, who is still standing there like someone's turned him to stone. I give him a chastising look, towhich he shrugs his shoulders and mouthsI'm sorry. I let out a sigh that lets him know it's ok.
We sit at the table and wait for Willow to serve us. She plops down two portions, of what I'm really not sure. The protein bricks look like they have been reimagined. She's mashed them down and cooked them to look like disks, disks that are a little burnt. Linden takes a bite, nodding his head like they aren't that bad. Seeing Linden's reaction, I feel brave enough to try a taste.
Willow smiles encouragingly, but suddenly Linden is sprinting to the sink and gagging up everything in his mouth. He's frantically searching for water. And then it hits me. Possibly the worst aftertaste in the world. I run to the sink, pushing my gagging brother over, fighting for the tap. Both dry heaving.
"What is that!? It's horrible!" I shriek.
"Willow, what did you do? It's not human waste, is it? Please tell me I did not just eat shit." Linden is shriller than I've ever heard him.
Willow is looking at us both and dissolves into laughter. It's contagious and I can't contain my grin.
"It's obviously not shit, ok, it was just an experiment. I used the tea and a few other things. I thought it might make it... taste better?" She is cackling now, watching as our brother drowns himself in the sink. "A failed experiment, obviously!" She's bent over now, unable to contain herself as our brother continues to lose his mind. I compose myself, but I can't help but join Willow as fresh tears form in her eyes, from laughter this time, watching Linden's continued dramatics.
We're holding each other up, waiting for Linden to pull it together.
"Maple, I worry about how you're alright after that. I need to go to the hospital. I think my tongue might atrophy." He's laughing now too, although he's got a cloth he's rubbing on his tongue.
"You are such a baby," I say, wiping the tears from my eyes. "I can't with you two, I'm living with lunatics."
Linden scoffs as he fake stomps to his room and slams the door. We erupt into more laughter, which turns into a cough for Willow, but not a bad one. This was absolutely worth getting up for.
I had every intention of being productive instead of hanging out with my siblings, playing games, and reading. But I realize with uneasy certainty that these days will be what push me forward when I'm training at The Centre.
