Page 67 of Ivy's Venom

“What triggered it?” She asks. “Was it a bad dream about Charlotte? Saxon says you’ve been having them.” Of course he told her but it’s a better explanation than the truth.

“Yeah.”

“Do we need to go see Dr. Kahale?” She looks worried.

“I’m okay now.” I try to assure her, “I’m going to take a shower and start some homework.”

Her eyes brighten a bit and she runs her knuckles over my cheek. “I left you some soup on the table by your bed.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Neil: I bet you changed my name back, huh?

His message comes through the next day as I’m sitting on my bed pouring over homework.

Neil: Don’t use up your answer on that one. It doesn’t matter.

Neil: What’s your favourite colour?

What the fuck is he doing? I’m once again smiling at the screen of my phone.

Me: Green.

Neil: Makes sense.

I snort and throw my phone back on my bed, my chest is beginning to feel lighter and my head a little clearer. Soon, the idea of leaving my house won’t feel like the end of the world. Anger is slowly replacing my devastation and I want nothing more than to hurt Adam Van Dyke for even thinking he could get away with what he did to me.

“I ordered pizza since Mom, Dad, and Dahlia are gone to New York for the weekend.” Saxon says from the doorway.

“Why didn’t you go?”

“Someone needs to be here in case you decide to try and kill yourself.” Then he’s walking back down the hallway.

Typical Saxon.

Neil: I had a dream last night.

Neil: I dreamt that an angel came to me and gifted me glasses that would give me the power to see a person’s soul.

Neil: I saw my sister’s soul, it was murky and cloudy. I woke up really sad and couldn’t go back to sleep.

Neil: What is your favourite food?

Me: Charlotte’s soul was prismatic, shining in pristine technicolour. Pizza.

He doesn’t answer me back and I leave it alone. I know Neil is struggling to come to terms with his sister’s death and my role in it. One day, we will have to talk about it and I will have to tell him the truth because he deserves it and I need to tell it at least once.

I wonder if he saw my soul in his dream?

Neil: If I tell you I’m outside, would you let me in?

It’s Saturday evening and even though I’m feeling better, I don’t want to be near anyone. At the same time, if it weren’t for Neil I would still be wrapped up in my bed, stinking like a rotting corpse.

Neil: Don’t mind me, I’m not freaking out waiting for your answer.

Shit.

Me: You’re here?

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