Page 59 of Beyond The Maples
"Gods, what have I done now?" he huffs. "I feel like you're always mad at me."
I narrow my eyes, trying to see through the red haze that's taking over. As soon as we turn round a quiet corner, I turn to face him.
"That's because I kind of am, Deacon. I feel like every time I turn around, I'm learning new and exciting facts about you. Tell me something, do you not see the wild indifference you seem to have? Does it not bother you that your new buddy was probably the one who helped legislate Willow's medication cost increasing? Does it not strike you as odd that our home is in shambles, and this place seems to be thriving? Or is your life so riddled with privilege, you can't even see the disparity? I'm curious. Just how chummy are you with Zander, knowing he could very well cause my sister's death without a second thought?" I cross my arms.
Deacon sucks in a breath, shocked. My gut turns over itself, some of my gusto leaving me as I see the anguish written all over his face.
"I'm only going to say this once." He steps closer. "You do not have a monopoly on hardship. You are not the only one who gets to survive by any means. You don't get to break the rules whenever you want to, and then ridicule me when I do what I need to do to protect the people that I love, which, yes, includes you and your entire family. If I have to play nice with people who aren't so good, or cross lines to keep you all safe, that is a price I'll gladly pay. So, if we're done with this interrogation, I'll talk to you later."
He blows past me. No joke, no softening of his words. I'm left standing there, swaying in my turmoil.
Parts of what he said are true. Of course they are. But there's a big part of me that wonders if we're ever going to see things the sameway again.
I'm reading in bed. After a long day, getting lost in a book is the only thing that will quiet my busy brain.
Farra is writing to her mother, but I haven't seen her get a letter back so far. Willow and Linden write regularly. Nothing of great importance, though. Sometimes Willow complains aggressively about Linden's less than flexible rules. Linden has mentioned twice that he wishes I never asked Marta to check in on them, that she's been bossy and I laugh, thinking of her scolding him and how flustered he probably gets.
My seemingly peaceful evening is cut short when we hear a loud crash in the hallway. Our door is wrenched open without a knock, and Leo comes barreling through like he's on fire.
"What is wrong with you!" I scold, quickly getting to my feet.
Leo stumbles, completely out of breath, and I manage to catch him before he falls over. Farra shoots up, confused and groggy, and I realize she'd fallen asleep writing her letter and now has ink smeared on her face.
Yet, she still somehow manages to look more put together than anyone else. My attention snaps back to Leo, who still can't catch his breath.
"Man, what is going on with you? How far did you run to get that winded?" I look at him with concern.
"I… I was on watch. I ran here when they dumped me back at the entrance," he says, using one hand on my shoulder for support.
"Ok... and why the hell did you run all the way here and barge into our room? We could've been changing," Farra barks impatiently.
"It’s better if I just show you," Leo says, ignoring Farra's comment, which has my head tilting in confusion.
He pulls out something from the inside of his jacket pocket. Leo uncurls his fist, and in his palm is a small plant, with roots in a crumbling patch of soil.
I scrunch up my face, trying to register what I'm seeing. The small green leaves are somewhat wilted, but otherwise what I think I'm seeing is a healthy plant. In soil. That was growing.
I balk.
"What. Is. That?" Farra is wide eyed, and her hands go to the top of her head.
Reaching I run the leaves between my fingers as gently as I can. I've never seen a plant like this. "Leo, what is this? Where did you get it?" I'm fighting between awe and panic.
"I was patrolling the wall. Near the end of my shift, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. When I went to bend down, there it was. A strong, healthy, very much alive plant." He sits on the end of the bed, and we crouch beside him, all staring at the plant like it's the most amazing thing we've ever seen.
"So, you plucked it," Farra mumbles.
"So, I plucked it," he repeats.
"And now we have it. In our room." My turns to Leo. "Did anyone see you take this?"
Leo shakes his head enthusiastically. "No, I was paired with that buffoon, Sean. He either falls asleep or leaves early on every single shift. He was already packing up when I went around and grabbed it, and it was at the other end of the concrete slab."
I nod, appreciating that he'd at least not put us in immediate danger.
Farra grabs the clump from Leo, still in awe.
"We should report this. I mean, right?" She's holding the tiny half-crushed plant like it's a newborn. Like it's the most precious thing in the world.
