One, two, get a clue
Three, four, blood and gore
Five, six, beat you with sticks
Seven, eight, this is your fate
Nine, ten, now’s your end
“It’s okay, Ann. I know you didn’t mean to,” the nurse says.
But she’s lying.
I did mean to.
I walk over to the bed and sit next to her.
“I’m so, so sor-sorry!” I sob, burying my head into her lap. I feel her squirm a bit, uncomfortable.
“We were playing House, and she opened the window to let in some fresh air, and-and,” I stop, and gasp for breath.
“My dear, it’s okay. It’s okay,” she responds automatically, tension in her voice.
She doesn’t believe me.
She’s scared of me.
I look right up at her. She flinches, and I break down once more, continuing my charade of emotion.
“You don’t believe me,” I say simply, standing up.
She gets up slowly, crooning my name.
“Oh, Ann, Ann-”, she begins, but I interrupt her by flinging the blanket lying on my shoulders on the floor.
“No! You don’t believe me!” I get up, my fists tightening.
Whitefaced, she backs up. “Ann,” she says, almost begging.
But almost in not enough for me.
I walk over to her, hug her, and whisper, “I’m sorry.”
But I’m not. And that’s okay. Because she doesn’t forgive me anyway.
She just stares at me as I back away slightly. She ponders my face for a second. The breeze from the open window fills the room, covering us like a cold blanket.
Realization appears in her face, but she’s too late.
I push her.
She screams.
But no one’s here.
No one forgives me.
And that’s okay.
One, two, get a clue
Three, four, blood and gore
Five, six, beat you with sticks
Seven, eight, this is your fate
Nine, ten, now’s your end