Chapter 15: Skip Day, Part 1

I awoke Monday morning feeling even crummier than I had when I'd gone to bed the night before. The framed photograph of me and Mom that normally sat on the bedside table was cradled to my chest in a death-like grip. How many times was I going to fall asleep clutching this picture? Will I ever get past what I did to her?

After getting dressed, I grabbed my bag from where I'd left it on the floor and headed downstairs.

"Good morning." Aunt Beth's chipper voice greeted me as soon as I stepped foot in the kitchen. "Hungry? I made waffles."

"Uh, no, not really. I think I'm going to have some toast."

"Are you feeling ill?" she asked.

She put her hand to my forehead to check if I was running a fever - something Mom hadn't done since I was a preteen. The loving, concerned gesture only had my stomach tilting even more.

"No, I didn't sleep very well last night. That's all." I smiled tightly. "I'll be fine."