As if to compensate for the bad offer, the company promised to provide accommodation for me and my mother in India. After a year of joblessness, Dad had finally secured a job-but in a small city in India. Somehow, my voice sounds more pained than I expected. I pull away but instantly regret doing so. In a low voice I say, “Do we really have to go?” She comes closer to me and whispers, “It’ll be wonderful, honey.” She squeezes my hand reassuringly. “Why don’t you want to go to India, Erin?” She sounds concerned. I feel homeless.īut of course, my mother would never understand that. I feel as though the world is about to collapse. I don’t understand how she can be so cheerful at a time like this. We have a flight to catch in forty-eight hours,” Mom says chirpily. I finally stutter, “I’m fine, really. I’m fine, Mom.” No! A doctor would instantly know that I’m perfectly fine. But Mom only crosses her arms and says, “I’d say it’s strange enough to take you to the hospital.”Īt the sound of the word “hospital” I shoot up from the chair. It’s so strange, isn’t it? S-strange enough to cancel our trip and stay at home, right?” “Really?” I can almost feel her cock an eyebrow. “You’ve caught a cold, have you?” “I seem to be unwell, Mom.” I fake a cough. “Maybe I caught a cold.” I close my eyes for extra effect. Mom rolls her eyes again. “What’s wrong, Erin?” “UUGGGHHH!” I groan louder and collapse on the chair. I carefully dodge them and make my way to a chair near my mom. Several boxes, tape rolls, markers, and sheets of bubblewrap are scattered around my bedroom floor. She is busy folding clothes and arranging them neatly in a suitcase. My mother looks at me from across the room. “UGH!” I groan loudly and flop onto my bed.