<b>Chapter </b><b>80 </b>


    Nivora stood there, unmoving for a moment, heart pounding.


    When she returned inside, Marceline was on the floor of the kitchen, sitting with her back against the cabs, her shoulders trembling as she cried silently.


    “I didn’t mean to,” she kept whispering, “I didn’t mean to…


    Nivera knelt beside her but didn’t speak right away.


    “Is he alright?” Marceline asked, lifting her tear–stained face.


    Nivera swallowed. “I think so.”


    That was a lie<b>, </b>and they both knew it was. No one would be <b>okay </b>after almost getting stabbed by their mother, but Nivera didn’t me the woman


    Marceline clearly wasn’t in the right frame of mind, but sadly, that didn’t change what had just happened.


    “I don’t know what came over me,” Marceline said again<b>, </b>her voice small. “I was just cutting the lemon and then… then it felt like someone els moving my hand.”


    She looked down at her own fingers like they were foreign to her.


    Nivera handed her a ss of water, watching as she took small sips. She wanted to ask questions. Why did you do it? What did you see? But none of it woulde out.


    It wasn’t in her ce to ask. Besides, that would just add salt in the woman’s wound.


    The minutes stretched thin before Marceline reached for her phone, unlocking it with shaky fingers and dialing Alejandro’s number.


    Two.


    Three.


    Voicema


    She tried <b>again</b>. Then again. And again.


    Nothing


    “Please pick up,” she whispered. “Please, mi hijo…..”


    She left voicemails, the kind that sounded half–lucid and full of half–sobs.


    “Alejandro, please please call me back. I didn’t mean to… it wasn’t me. You know that. Please.”


    Nivera rubbed her arm gently, trying to calm her. But Marceline’s hands wouldn’t stop shaking


    *I didn’t know–I’ve never–I’ve never done that before.”


    -Maybe you ne


    need to rest,” Nivera suggested quietly. “Come to the living room. I’ll make tea.”


    He must hate me.


    “He doesn’t hate you. He <b>was </b>shocked. Anyone would be.”


    “I tried to kill my son,” Marceline whispered, volce cracking “With a kitchen knife. Who does that! What kind of mother T


    Marceline stood slowly, leaning on the edge of the counter for support. “I’m fine, I just need to…


    Her eyes flickered to her bag where the medication was and without wasting time, sim headed to her hag


    Nivera followed her gaze, not missing the way her fingers trembled as she opened it and pulled out a small bottle of pills.


    She immediately popped one into her mouth and swallowed dry.


    Marceline’s hands trembled as she tried to refill her ss of water. She missed, the stream pouring onto the countertop


    “I’ll do it,” <b>Nevera </b>said, quickly stepping in.


    a feel <b>use </b>


    “No,” Marceline whispered. “No. I need to feel useful”


    Nivera didn’t object as Marceline filled the <b>ss </b>and gulped down the contents in one go


    “I take them when it gets had,” Marceline murmured, as though she had read the question in Mivera’s head. “Sometimes… sometimes the world moves too fast.”


    “Tunderstand,” <b>Nivera </b>nodded.


    The silence between them grow heavier.


    “Are you fine


    <b>now</b><b>!</b>”


    Marceline looked at her, and for a moment, her lips parted like she might say something. But then she just shook her head.


    “I don’t know. I need to lie down,” she said finally.


    “Come, let me help you.” Nivera immediately ced a hand on <b>Marceline </b>and guided her out of the kitchen.


    “Where’s your room?” She then asked


    “Upstairs,” was Marceline’s short answer,


    “<b>Okay</b>, let’s go.”


    Marcelline hesitated, then nodded. Together, they made their way upstairs.


    By the time they got to her room, Marceline’s steps had slowed considerably. The pill was taking effect–her <b>shoulders </b>ckened, her breathing evened


    out


    When they got to Marceline’s room, she helped the woman who was still shaken <b>up </b>into her bed.


    I’ll stay with you.“”


    “<b>No</b>, no–you don’t have to.”


    “I want to,” Nivera said firmly.


    There was no way <b>she </b>was leaving Marceline unattended, as there was no telling what would happen.


    Nivera sat in the nearby armchair, watching her, it didn’t take long for Marceline to fall asleep.


    A part of her wanted to call Alejandro. A greater part of <b>her </b>wanted to go see him.


    But instead, she sot. Still <b>and </b>quiet watching Marceline.


    20:52 Wed, 23 Jul


    by with her until Alejandro returned.


    She would stayi


    Nivera wasn’t oblivious to the fact that Marceline’s eyes, always held a certain speck of sadness whenever she looked or even spoke about her son.


    And with the way Alejandro was always dismissive of his mother? Something had happened between both of them and until the time they both addressed it and stop running away, neither of them would bepletely fine.


    Thest thing she saw before closing her eyes for a brief moment was Marceline finally falling asleep, her chest rising and falling in rhythm.


    She would just rest her eyes for a bit. Just a bit, she told herself.