Obsession (Endurance) Read Free Page A

given
me…I can give that generously to a baby no one else would want.  My own
small family.” 
    Truth . 
I could feel it inside myself.  “Do you understand?”
    Theresa
sat on the edge of the bed and took my un-casted hand in hers.  “Are you sure ,
Ellie?  If you change your mind within the next few weeks, you need only
tell me.”  I nodded and squeezed her hand as tears poured down my
face.  I rested my head against the pillow and cried myself to
sleep. 
    When
I woke up a long time later Theresa was gone.  My door was open and I
could see the edge of the black tactical gear my guards wore on either side of
the door.  Mrs. Geldin sat in her wheelchair beside the bed.  I told
her hello with a smile.
    “Hello,
dear.  You’re looking better each day.  How are you feeling?” 
Her hands were warped from arthritis and her skin was like rice paper, pale and
fragile.  She held my hand gently in hers. 
    “I’m
fine, Mrs. Geldin.  How is your hip?  And Mr. Geldin?”
    With
a delicate snort, the old woman’s eyes twinkled.  “My hip is on the
mend.  I hate not being able to get around at more than a crawl.  My
Richard spends almost all of his time here.  Says I’ll run off with a
young orderly if he doesn’t keep an eye out.  I’d divorce him for his
raging jealous streak but we love each other too much.  Besides, if that
nurse from the night shift doesn’t stop flirting with my darling, she’ll learn
how bad I am about sharing.”
    I
couldn’t help but laugh.  A movement by the door drew my attention and I
was happy to see my parents.  “Mom, Dad…you remember Mrs. Geldin?  My
parents, Monica and Samuel.” 
    Mom
swept in to take the elderly woman’s hand and inquire after all manner of
things.  This told me my parents had checked out every person currently
residing or working on this floor.
    My
mother is an Amazon warrior when it comes to me.  The rest of the world
sees her as a pocket Venus.  Small, perfect, still achingly lovely in her
late sixties.  Barely five feet tall with blond hair and violet eyes, my
father towers over her at six-two. 
    They
are determined to live forever so I’m always protected.  It’s my hope,
too.  That they’ll live forever…not that they’ll always have to protect
me.  My father still looks as though he could take up a weapon to defend
me.  Dark brown hair and green eyes.  Leanly muscled. 
    I’m
a blend of my parents.  Five-six, dark brown hair with a tendency to gain
blond highlights during the summer.  My violet eyes are darker than my
mother’s.  I’ve always been athletic like Dad, possessed of a gentle way
with others like Mom. 
    I’ve
always liked the description of ‘coltish’ that my parent’s friends have applied
to me.  Built for speed and endurance, stronger than I look with a love of
running and a hint of wildness.  It fits me. 
    My
father approached the bed and sat beside me.  “How are you feeling, pretty
princess?”  I love my father’s hands.  They’re large and warm, more
calloused than people would expect for a man of means. 
    “I’m
good, Dad.  Are you both here to try to talk me into coming home again?”
    A
gentle smile touched his face.  “No.  Ellie, we’re taking you
home.  There won’t be any discussion.”  From the corner of my eye, I
watched as my mother touched cheeks with Mrs. Geldin and held the door wide as
she left.  Then she closed and locked it, turning to me with a resolute
expression on her face.
    “I…I
think I should finish recovering here…”  Watching their eyes, my voice
trailed off as understanding hit me.  “You know.”  I glanced around
and noted the IPod speaker system they’d placed in my room when I’d been
admitted.  “You’ve been bugging the room this entire time.”  I closed
my eyes with embarrassment and more than a little worry. 
    I
felt my mother sit on the other side of my bed.  “Ellie.  Look at me,
love.”  The tears were