Page 95 of Scarred King
Whatever happened, I’m here to help you.
Answer your fucking phone already.
If you’re trying to drive me crazy, you’ve succeeded. Call me ASAP.
The truce ended today.
Let me know that you’re alive.
Suddenly, I notice a message from Professor Sawyer:
Elena, I’ve gone to the conference. I’ll see you when I get back.
Collision of worlds, I think in frustration. And now neither of those worlds is mine. I’m caught in between. I refuse to leave heaven, but I won’t give up hell.
I turn off the phone and turn on my laptop. “I love you, Johanna!” I shout and hug the computer when I see she has sent me more summaries and yesterday’s work. I concentrate on my studies for hours until the door opens, and my mother announces she is back.
“Have you eaten?” she peeks at my computer screen.
“Yes,” I reply proudly.
“Are you still busy with that nonsense?” she boils water in the kettle and hangs up her purse. “I'll never understand your choice of your major.” She makes herself a cup of coffee. “All those strange formulas. What will you be able to do with it when you graduate? You are so clever. Why didn’t you study business, or medicine, or law?”
“Mom, we’ve had this discussion so many times,” I answer calmly, as I continue to read through the summaries. “I love it, I’m good at it and I hope one day you’ll come to a ceremony where I'll get my doctorate. Maybe when I’m a professor, you’ll finally be proud of me.”
“I'm proud of you already,” she says immediately, and I look at her suspiciously. “Don’t look at me like that,” she laughs. “I suppose I have to complain about something all the time, but I really am proud of you.” She turns back and starts preparing a salad. “I tell everyone that my daughter is a physics genius. I even did some research on the internet.”
“You did?” I feel like I am talking to a stranger.
“Yes, I did,” she smiles at me proudly. “I was interested in the practical aspect of your studies in today’s world.”
“And what did you find?” I find it hard to believe that this is really my mother talking.
“Oh, well, I can’t remember,” she giggles. “All sorts of things that I didn’t really understand. But I did understand one thing,” she turns serious. “That there is a chance that my daughter will go down in history books.”
“Mom,” I scratch my head in embarrassment. “I don’t know if that will happen—”
“It will if you want it enough,” she says, and puts a pot of water on the stove. I know how much you want it.” She sighs.
I’m speechless. On the one hand, I’m so happy she acknowledges me. On the other hand, I really don’t understand why she behaved the way she did all those years.
After lunch she goes to the bedroom and I return to my computer. I feel such rare calm that I wish time could stop.
“You shouldn't be sitting in front of your computer for so long,” I hear her scolding me and I turn it off.
She comes closer and I look at her. She showered, immaculately dressed and wearing makeup. “Let's drink some coffee, and then you'll help me clean the house,” she says as she fills the kettle. There’s a loud knock on the door and she turns to me in terror.
“It’s only seven p.m.,” I whisper. “Maybe it’s not them.”
“Nobody else comes to see me here.” She puts the kettle down and starts walking to the door. “You have to hide. I won't be able to watch them threatening you,” she whispers firmly.
“Mom, I’m not leaving you alone with them!”
“Elena, you will do as I say.” She signals me to enter the small bathroom across the front door. I shake my head no and grimace in annoyance, but she signals that I should remain quiet and ushers me into the bathroom. She makes sure that the bathroom's door is closed, and I kneel down and peek through the keyhole.
When she straightens up and opens the door, I’m convinced that she’s the bravest woman I have ever met.
Three young men burst inside and she’s pushed against the wall. They look younger than me, but their expressions are evil and hateful.