Chapter 4 - Shelby Comes Home
The next morning, a woman arrived at the nurses' station wearing a gray coat and knitted hat.
She looked exhausted.
Thin.
Afraid.
"My name is Shelby Mercer."
I stood.
"Lily's mother?"
She nodded.
A counselor stood beside her.
"I'm in residential treatment. They gave me permission to come with supervision."
She looked toward room fourteen.
"Is my daughter awake?"
Before I could answer, Shelby saw Roman through the glass.
He was asleep in a chair beside Lily.
Their hands were connected beneath the lavender blanket.
Shelby covered her mouth.
"Oh my God."
Roman opened his eyes.
Brother and sister stared at each other for the first time in nineteen years.
Roman stood slowly.
Shelby didn't move.
He stepped into the hallway.
She whispered:
"You found her."
Roman's face tightened.
"You should have told me sooner."
"I know."
"You should have told her where you were."
"I know."
"You should have called."
"I know!"
Shelby's voice broke.
"I know everything I should have done, Roman!"
People nearby turned.
Roman lowered his voice.
"Lily thought you abandoned her."
"I did abandon her."
"No. You disappeared."
"That's the same thing to a child."
Roman said nothing.
Shelby wiped her eyes.
"I was using again."
Roman's jaw flexed.
"I know."
"I couldn't let her watch me destroy myself."
"So you vanished?"
"I thought I was protecting her."
Roman gave a bitter laugh.
"That sounds familiar."
Shelby looked at him.
For a second, they were teenagers again.
Two frightened children raised by the same violent father.
"I became you," Shelby whispered.
Roman flinched.
"No."
"Controlling everything. Deciding what was best without asking."
"You're not me."
"I ran just like I did at seventeen."
Roman stepped closer.
"But you came back."
Shelby's eyes filled.
"You really believe that matters?"
A small voice came from the room.
"Mom?"
Shelby froze.
Lily was awake.
Shelby entered.
Slowly.
Like one wrong move might make her daughter disappear.
Lily stared at her.
"You're skinny."
Shelby laughed through tears.
"So are you."
"That's not funny."
"No."
Shelby stopped beside the bed.
"Can I sit?"
Lily shrugged.
Shelby sat.
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Finally, Lily asked:
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Shelby's face crumpled.
"Because I was ashamed."
"Of me?"
"No. Never."
"Then why?"
"Because I relapsed."
Lily looked toward Roman.
"He told me."
Shelby nodded.
"I wanted to get clean before I saw you."
"You could've called."
"I know."
"You could've said goodbye."
"I know."
"You could've told me Uncle Grumpy existed."
Roman looked offended.
"That's apparently my name now."
Shelby stared at the sign on the wall.
For the first time, she laughed.
Then she started crying again.
Lily didn't immediately forgive her.
That mattered.
This wasn't a magical reunion.
It was uncomfortable.
Honest.
Painful.
Shelby stayed an hour.
Before leaving, she stood beside the bed.
"Can I come tomorrow?"
Lily looked at her.
"Are you going to?"
"Yes."
"At what time?"
Shelby thought.
"Six."
Lily pointed at Roman.
"He comes at 7:10."
Shelby nodded.
"Then I'll come at six."
"If you're late, I'm counting."
"Okay."
The next evening, Shelby arrived at 5:47.
Lily looked at the clock.
"Thirteen minutes early."
Shelby smiled.
"I was scared."
"Good."
Roman arrived at exactly 7:10.
Shelby stared at his purple fingernail.
"What happened to you?"
Roman looked at Lily.
"Criminal coercion."
May you like
Lily laughed.
And for one hour, room fourteen felt almost normal.
