I Want to Dance with You

Mom twisted oddly, slumped, and fell. I didn’t have time to catch her—we crashed to the floor. An ambulance! I need to call an ambulance! My voice faltered; I started to stutter. I tried to hold my breath—and then I laughed. The call was dropped because I was laughing into the phone.

By the time I finally calmed down and managed to reach the doctors, it was too late. Mom died on the way to the hospital…

My father was always irritated by her complaints. He said migraines weren’t real illnesses and that Mom was pretending. Now he’d get drunk and scream that it was my fault—I didn’t save her.

Grandma says I have to start over. I dyed my hair pink—out of spite! And they sent me to a camp too—if only I’d known who I’d meet there!