NovelEnglishMy Husband 394
THAT'S WEIRD LAURA
One month.
That's how long it had been since | ch- well, Texas, anyway. Since | stepped foot into a house | didn't
recognize, in a state | never imagined living in.
And now, here | was.
Standing in front of the mirror, steam curling aroundas dragged a towel over my damp skin. | reached out,
wiping the condensation off the glass, revealing my reflection-really looking at myself. My hair was still a little
dull, the ends thinner than |
remembered. My cheeks weren't as hollow anymore, but they still weren't as full as they used to be. My ribs no
longer jutted out as sharply, and the muscles in my arms and legs had started filling back in, thanks to the
endless amounts of protein Josh had been feeding me.
| was getting stronger.
Every day, | felt more alive.
| dropped the towel to my shoulders, running my fingers through my hair before my gaze drifted lower. My
fingertips brushed over the scar on my hairline, then over the faint, healing wound on my throat. Lower still, my
ribs, still slightly too pronounced. Then the most prominent scar-the one on my stomach where
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THAT'S WEIRD
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the feeding tube had been.
So many scars.
So many reminders of what I'd been through.
| let out a breath, shaking my head.
I needed sun.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtI needed fresh air.
I needed to live.
And today, for the first time, | was taking a step toward that.
Josh had arranged a driver to taketo Asha's school.
| was picking up my daughter alone.
Something so small, so normal-and yet my stomach was twisted in knots.
Nerves. Excitement. Fear.
| dressed quickly, pulling on jeans and a loose sweater, slipping my feet into sneakers. My body felt steady
beneath me. | no longer needed the wheelchair. | could manage stairs. The nurse only checked in onnow,
and most of my wounds had healed. | was capable.
And yet, as | climbed into the car, | couldn't shake the feeling that this was a test.
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A test to see if | was really back.
If I could do this.
If I could be her mother.
When the car pulled up in front of the school, my fingers tightened around my bag. Parents gathered outside,
chatting amongst themselves, waiting for their kids to be let out.
This was normal.
This was life.
| stepped out of the car, inhaling deeply. The sun was warm against my skin-another reminder that I'd spent too
much tinside. A mental note formed in my head. | needed more days like this.
A few women turned to look atas | adjusted the strap of my bag over my shoulder.
Then they walked over.
"You must be Asha's mom," one of them said, smiling brightly.
I returned the smile. "I am."
Another woman sighed, shaking her head. "It's just incredible, really. Everything you've been through... You're
such an inspiration."
I'd heard this a lot over the past month.
| knew people meant well.
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| knew they weren't trying to makefeel like a spectacle.
Still, the word sat strangely in my chest.
| smiled politely. "Thank you."
They continued talking-about their kids, about school events, about how strong | was. | nodded in all the right
places, made small talk, but my eyes kept drifting toward the school doors, waiting for them to open. And then-
Asha.
She crunning toward me, her
little blonde ponytail yale
backpack bounging)édainst her ack.
RerBheeks ere flushed, her
eyes-Josh's bright blue eyes-lit up
with excitement. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
She clutched something in her hands-an art project of skind, paint smudged on her fingers.
| barely had tto brace myself before she launched into my
arms.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
| laughed, stumbling back a little as |
hugged her tightly ightingite ent
I
of crayds@nd Childhood, The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
"Mommy! Look what | made!"
| pulled back slightly, taking the paper
from her hands. It hs, painting-a
pure: asstiokfigur amily, a bright
yellow sun. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
| swallowed past the lump in my throat.
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THAT'S WEIRD
"It's beautiful, sweetheart," | whispered.
Asha beamed up at me, pride radiating off her.
Behind her, the crowd of parents began to disperse, but one woman remained.
She stood near the door, watching me.
Raven hair. Glasses perched on the bridge of her nose. Arms crossed.
Something about her expression toldshe didn't think | was an inspiration.
Something about her made my stomach twist.
| smiled anyway, waving in her direction.
She didn't wave back.
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