LXVIII | Some Conscience

❦

Even though Asher said
he'll be my friend,

nothing changed.

A new patient is brought in

on a stretcher—

carried up to her room
like a corpse with a pee bag

dangling

from between her legs.

The nurses
call her Valerie.

Tammie
continues

to pretend I don't exist,

and when I
try

talking to her,

she smiles blankly,
a wide hostile grin

that reveals repulsive rotting teeth,

and ignores

my attempts
to reconcile.

Asher, because he's male,

can't cuddle with me in my bed
like she could

so I'm back to sleeping

alone

like I've always

done.

Having a new friend,
I decide after a week,

is not the same

as having your best one.

[Read the full story at novelconbini.com!]