The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 54
Gloria and Milford had always acted strangely regarding Leilani. Gloria, in particular, became emotionally volatile whenever she saw her. To an outsider, it would seem as if Leilani was the culprit behind her paralysis and memory loss.
Upon hearing that, Leilani’s movements halted.
Yvonne scratched her head. “I always feel like things are weird between you two, but I just
can’t remember…”
Leilani lowered her eyes and packed her equipment. “The past is best forgotten.”
While they spoke, Gloria stood in the shadows of the hallway. Seeing her paralyzed daughter finally stand, her heart swelled with excitement. But hearing the conversation between Yvonne and Leilani sparked an unavoidable panic.
Although Leilani had cured Yvonne, Gloria could never forget the image of her daughter lying in a pool of blood, motionless. She blamed Leilani for that. Driven by resentment, Gloria had avoided meeting Leilani during the treatment sessions, afraid she wouldn’t be able to control her urge to lash out.
Now, seeing Yvonne and Leilani becoming close again, as if returning to how things were before the accident, Gloria gripped the railing until her knuckles turned white. The scene of Yvonne falling into that pool of blood flashed before her eyes again!
No! She absolutely could not accept her daughter being harmed again! Yvonne could not have contact with Leilani.
“Mom?”
Milford’s voice came from behind. Gloria snapped back to reality, forcing down the gloom on her face as she turned to her son.
“Yvonne is recovering so well today. Why don’t you go in and keep her company instead of standing at the door?” Milford frowned.
Realizing Milford’s attitude toward Leilani had shifted from hostility to lowered defenses, Gloria felt the danger rising. She took a deep breath and lowered her voice. “Milford, come with me.”
She pulled Milford to a corner, her gaze sharp. “Leilani’s treatment is almost over, right?”
Milford nodded. “Yvonne’s legs have mostly recovered. Just a few more consolidation sessions and-”
“Then let that be the end of it,” Gloria interrupted coldly. “From now on, keep her out of Yvonne’s life.”
15:48
Milford was stunned. “Mom, Yvonne needs follow-up care, and Leilani…”
“Leilani what?” Gloria raised her voice before sharply lowering it, as if afraid of being overheard. “Milford, have you forgotten what she did back then? Yvonne almost died at her hands! Just because she fixed her legs now, have you gone soft?”
Milford fell silent. Of course, he remembered.
At Leilani’s birthday party three years ago, Yvonne had tumbled down the stairs, covered in blood. Leilani had stood at the top of the stairs, pale-faced, with a tearful Tamara standing beside her. To anyone watching, it looked like Leilani had pushed Yvonne.
He had been convinced of that truth. But during Leilani’s treatment of Yvonne, he occasionally recalled the look of shock in Leilani’s eyes back then, and her repeated pleas of “It wasn’t me.” And if it truly was her, why would she work so hard to treat Yvonne, showing no fear of Yvonne regaining her memories?
“Mom, that was ages ago…”
“Ages ago?” Gloria sneered. “Just because Yvonne has amnesia doesn’t mean it didn’t happen! Leilani is playing the saint now, but who knows what her ulterior motives are?”
15:48
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