Dominic frowns at the glass. “This will make me stronger?”
“Yes. Every time you get sick, your body will figure out how to make you stronger so you’re not so sick next time. It’ll target the culprit and create antibodies to fight it.”
“What’s a culprit?”
“The reason why you’re sick.”
“What are ant bodies?”
“Antibodies. They live inside you. They build an army to help fight the sickness.”
“How do you know that?” He asks, tilting his head the way Papa used to.
“I read books. Books make you smart.”
“Then I’ll read books,” he says, “lots of books. And I’m going to get stronger. And smart, and then nobody can be mean to me ever again.”
“Good. Drink it.”
He takes a long drink and makes a face. “I don’t want it.”
“There’s medicine in it. You need it.”
“Bleh.”
“Drink it, Dom. I’ll get you better tasting medicine at the store tomorrow.”
Not long after he finishes his drink, he falls asleep, and I drift off next to him once I’ve checked his skin for a drop in temperature.
When the front door slams a few hours later, I rouse in between the wall and his mattress and gently shake Dom to wake him up.
“I’m going to the store. Don’t you leave this bed until I get back.”
“I’m sleeping,” he whines.
“If you wake up, you pee and get right back into bed. Otherwise, don’t leave this room until I get back, and don’t answer the door for anyone.”
“I’m sleeping.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise, gah,” he huffs, pulling the sheet over his head.
Gut churning, I lock the door behind me. I start toward the street before I turn back around and head up to the porch, turning the lock with my key. One, two, three.
Satisfied with my count, I start at a dead run from the driveway toward the drug store. I’m not far from the house when I notice the sedan that was parked across the street from our house creeping up next to me. I stop mid-stride and turn as the car slows to a stop. Ready to confront whoever it is, I’m surprised to see a woman in the driver’s seat. She peers at me before she puts down her window, her eyes swollen and red. “Hi. I’m sorry if I scared you. I was wondering if I could give you a ride?”
“No,” is all I say before I turn and resume my run.
She follows for a few wordless seconds before she speaks up. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“I don’t need a ride, but thanks,” I keep my eyes forward, sweat clouding my vision. I’ve built up stamina due to my nightly runs since I started going to the place I discovered the night my parents died, but it’s hot as hell today, and my shirt is already soaked through.
“I’m going to town if that’s where you’re headed, and I could use the company.”
Annoyed, I stop my run and glare in her direction. She’s pretty and doesn’t look that much older than me. It’s when I finally approach the car that I see her large belly behind the wheel. She’s pregnant, really pregnant, and something in my gut tells me she’s harmless.
“You’re a little young to be running around alone, don’t you think?”
“I turn twelve in a few months, and what are you doing following kids around offering rides?”