Thirty-Nine: Take Your Medicine

The last thing I expected was for my mother to charge at me with her arms outstretched. Her face was red, and the war cry that ripped from her throat made my hands fly up in front of my face to protect myself. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Elena jump up from where she was sitting on the bed, stunned by what she was witnessing.

"What have you done?!" She screamed at me again as she gripped my shoulders in both hands and began to violently shake me back and forth. "You corrupted her!"

My head bobbled around from the jerking motion, but my arms stayed up in front of my face. I tried to open my mouth to defend myself... to explain, but all that came out was a weak whimper for her to stop. I tried to pull free, using my forearms to fight against her hold on me, but it was no use.

Then she broke loose. I opened my eyes and lowered my hands as Elena stood behind my mother, both arms wrapped tightly around her waist to restrain her. "Mom! Stop it!" She scr