TRAPPED IN MY ENEMY'S BED

oe'

it was scraping the inside of my skull. I wanted to disappear under the blanket and pretend the day didn't exist. But the

ady felt used up. I reached for the jug of water, drank, and wipe

I called it the thing that took my real mother and left this fragile, childlike version behind. One whole side of her body barely moved. Her right arm stayed curled against her chest

of the bed and tou

mornin

y found my face, the good

ful daughter?" she said, each

inful pulled under my

r kind, beauti

, then eased her into the wheelchair. Her right leg dra

ixed the footrests. "The physiotherapy here in Chi

llowed the trail to the McCartney family. Someone with that last name had been behind the wheel the night a car slammed into

shook out the morning pills. Mom

said. "Yellow ones.

s seven in the morning.

w where daylight was already coming in. "The yellow ones are on

t the window, then back at me.

Anything... my daugh

very time. I had to look away for

pporting the side that wouldn't hold itself up, talking the whole time so she wouldn't get

of the wheelchair an

ttle while. Not more th

rs tighte

hing... bad. Sta

n the clean smell of the soap I ha

ppen. You take a nap. I'll

ve. The guilt of leaving her alone sat on my chest like a stone. I still had

the prison on the

my heart was slamming so hard I could fe

I've said it before. I

words started coming, qu

still don't work. She can't walk. She can't cut her own food. She can't tell morning from night. She talks like a child. She needs

. I didn't wipe them.

m sorry' fix

h looke

been more caref

't the one

ad sna

he blame. But it wasn't you. Someone from the McCartney family w

s not

the eye and

security for them, but that

tment money can buy. Explain how your wife opened a huge bridal store in one of the bigges

d in his face. F

ve gone too far looking into my f

judge two years ago and lied under oath. So yes-I can be

The next words came out like

truth. Give me a name. Who wa

ing moved in his eyes. Ju

kind of man who never raised his voice because he never needed to. There were stories that he could end a business or

face had

hands were clenche

im, isn