Page 48 of Ask Your Mom If I'm Real

“Annie?” I asked, startled.

Mary looked up, and once upon a time, that move would’ve caused her beautiful hair to bounce and sway.

This time, like the last probably ten that she’d done it since we’d shaved all her hair off, it didn’t.

All that was left on the top of her head was bald skin.

The chemo was taking its toll on my girl.

“Dix?” she asked as she got up. “What is it?”

“Annie,” I said quietly. “Tell me what’s going on?”

“I messed up.” She sniffled. “I did…I did something really bad.”

My thoughts immediately went to her children.

“What happened, Annie?” I pushed, pulling my bike keys out of my pocket.

Mary snatched them out of my hand and tossed them on the counter, instead reaching for the truck keys.

She was going with me, and she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“I need help.” She sounded softer.

Less…exuberant.

Maybe she was calming down.

“I’m at home,” she breathed.

“Your mom and I will be there as soon as we can,” I said as I reluctantly hung up.

At the time, I hadn’t known how close she was to death.

Had I known, I would’ve spent the last couple of minutes of her life talking to her, instead of driving to her.

By the time we got to her place, Bayou was standing outside, looking sick.

Mary went to him, and I went inside.

I expected to find Annie in the living room or the kitchen, but she wasn’t there.

“She’s in her bedroom,” Bayou called out

I had a sick feeling in my gut when I walked toward the bedroom.

That sick feeling grew insurmountably when I saw her body on the floor.

I didn’t get to her side before Bayou came into the room behind me and said, “She’s dead.”

I placed my fingers to her throat, hoping to feel a pulse, and didn’t.

I looked up at Hoax. “What happened?”

“She killed herself,” Bayou murmured. “Look.”

Mary picked up the note that was lying on the bed.

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