Chapter 20
alice no longer knew if she was awake or asleep, only that she floated through the dark hallways, long after her children had gone to sleep, craving water or crackers or whatever she could grab quickly in the kitchen before floating back to her bedroom.
She didn’t try to remember what day it was or what she might have said to Luna or Luca in the daylight.
It was only a matter of time before she had to re-emerge into her life, but in the darkness, cocooned in her bed, time could no longer be measured.
Then she heard a familiar voice, low and quiet, laced with fear that, if provoked, could transform into rage.
That square brown face. That rough bob. Her again.
“I was always sorry. Even if it never seemed like I was. I only wanted to give you strength.” And at that, she raised her hand, as if readying herself to slap Alice across the face.
Her arm hovered in the air until Alice heard a small cry, a mewling like a kitten.
The cry of a small hidden child. The woman lowered her arm. “I told you: I’m so sorry.”
Alice heard the crows outside, cawing at the sun beginning to rise. Maybe today was the day she would leave her nest. Or not. She turned her face into the pillow and breathed in her own musk. She had another hour before she had to decide.