Before (The Sensitives) - By Dawn Rae Miller Page 0,27
young age. There will never be anyone else for me.
There’s a commotion across the room. Maz runs toward us, his light brown hair damp from melting snow. No wonder Kyra likes him—he’s a ball of perpetual motion. Definitely not boring. Beck intercepts him half-way across the room and Maz gestures wildly before they beeline for our table.
“C’mon,” Maz puffs. “I have it all set up.”
The thought of being outside, where we were attacked, sends a chill through me. “I’m hungry. You guys go,” I say and shove a forkful of vegetables in my mouth.
Kyra lifts her head lazily. “Lark doesn’t want to do anything. She’s deso.”
Maz flashes his lop-sided grin at me. “C’mon, Lark. It’ll be fun. I’ll even let you pelt me a few times.”
I shake my head. There’s no way I’m going back out there. Not until I have to.
Maz and Kyra exchange a look I can’t decipher. “I thought it would cheer you up,” Maz says. “After missing the assessment and…”
“Thanks. But I don’t need cheering up. I’m fine. Really.” My voice cracks slightly.
Beck takes the seat next to me. His fingers skim the back of my hand as he leans into me, and whispers, “I’m not exactly eager to go back out there, either.”
Sometimes, we’re so in sync, it’s like he really does know my heart. And that’s all the proof I need to know we’re meant for each other.
#
Bethina raps on the door twice, before sticking her head in. “May I come in?”
“Of course,” I answer.
I’m sitting at my desk, books spread out, trying to focus on my homework. But the only thing I’ve accomplished so far is wondering why Beck isn’t home yet. He was supposed to be done with practice fifteen minutes ago and if he doesn’t show up soon, my wristlet is going to have a dent from me hitting it every minute, pinging him.
“Are you okay?” As soon as I got home, Bethina nearly hugged the life out of me. I can’t remember her ever acting like that before—scared and relieved at the same time.
“My head still hurts.” All the stress today left me with a raging headache.
She fishes two tiny pills from her pocket. “Dr. Hanson said to take these if the pain becomes unbearable.”
“I’m okay. Really.” I eye the medicine suspiciously. I think, in my entire life, I’ve had maybe two colds, and have never taken drugs before. A glowing testament to the medical training Bethina, as a caregiver, received from the State.
She sets the pills on the desk. “I know how you feel about medicine, but just in case. They’ll help you feel better.”
She rests her hand on my desk and I touch it.
“I was scared,” I say softly, out loud for the first time.
Bethina’s comforting arms reach around me and fold me against her stomach. “Oh, sweet child, of course you were.” She strokes the back of my head and two fat tears sit in the corners of my eyes.
“But Beck—he was so brave, B. You should have seen him. He didn’t falter.”
Bethina steps back and holds me at arm’s length. “Now you listen to me. You are just as brave as Beck Channing. You are just as strong.”
I shake my head. “No. I hid.”
“Didn’t I hear you say you joined him up there on the hill?”
“Yes.”
“That took courage, Lark. Not many people would.”
I don’t tell her I only did it for Beck. That I couldn’t abandon him. It had more to do with my concern for him than bravery.
She dabs my eyes with the sleeve of her tunic before turning her attention to Beck’s side of the room. “He’s never going to learn to pick up after himself, is he?”
I shake my head. The movement rattles the inside of my head and I wince. “Good thing he has us.”
A sadness falls across Bethina’s face. “You’ll both be gone soon.”
As excited as I am about moving on, leaving Bethina behind is the one thing I’m not looking forward to. Only lately have I begun to truly appreciate what she does for us, how much she cares for us.
“Look at me, getting all teary-eyed over you growing up.” She bends and picks some of Beck’s discarded clothes up off the floor.
“I’ll miss you too, B. But I’ll make Beck come back and visit.” I smile at her, hoping to ease some of her sadness. “We’ll ohhh and awww over your new house of babies. And who knows, maybe one of our children will be assigned to you.”
“I hope