Page 84 of Marked

Is she as nervous as I am to talk?

“Honey? Is everything okay?”

She probably suspects the worst since I never call her first. I cringe at myself, knowing damn well that I’m always the first to hang up.

Gods, I really have been horrible to her. To all of them.

“Mom,” I wail, unable to help it. I feel like I’m that small, bullied child again.

“Valkyrie?” she calls back and I can hear her voice tremble. I can hear the love and worry she has for me in the way she says my name. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

I’m struggling to find words again, but this time it’s because I’m caught up in the sound of my mother’s voice. How can she still love me so much when I’ve done nothing but hurt her?

“Honey, you’re scaring me,” she cries, a faint sniffle coming through the phone. “Where are you? I’ll come to you right now.” She hesitates briefly before adding, “I mean, if you want me to?”

I’m a total wreck, and all I want is my mom.

I choke on a cry as I try to hold it back long enough to get out one little word. “Yes.”

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