Chapter 3: Tenfold

It took a while for Ma to drink the chicken broth I made her, as it usually does this time of night. The morning newspaper lay on the ground near her bed and I went to pick it up.

"I'll get that in the morning, Brin. You leave it there for now."

I smiled beside myself. She hadn't managed to see the sun, it was setting now – so close to disappearing and taking the warmth with it. I tried getting her off the bed. Some days are worse than others and and today happened to be one of those days.

The fever was taking over every cell in her body. After enduring a series of degrading slurs from walking the streets filled with afternoon drunkards. I had finally made it to the physician's shop to see if he needed any help during the Winter. Only to be sent back both without any medication or hope for money to buy it.

The Valley was home to many things, but hope never seemed to be one of them.

Shaking myself from my thoughts, if focused back to Ma. "I'm sure you will, Ma" I left the paper on the floor and made note to wake up and pick it off the floor.

Blowing out the candles that lined next to her bed, I rubbed my left shoulder. It had been aching all Winter, but the salve that my old caretaker boss had given me was over.

I kissed her on her forehead and wished her a well night sleep. Making sure to remind her that I'll see her tomorrow. Some days, I never knew if it was a question or a statement.

I left her room and shut the door behind myself. Looking at the small little hole we lived in, I sighed and told myself not to cry. Not tonight.

I moved to the kitchen and cleaned up the pans we had. Leaving the chicken broth to the side as that pot was still hot from the metal stove. After everything was done, I opened the drawer underneath the utensils and pulled out the small blue box that was kept within it.

Lifting to the counter, I opened the latch and looked inside. Three bronze coins. Lay flat at the bottom of the box. I swallowed the fear and the questions that came attached to those three coins. We were still in the middle of the deadest part of Winter. With no job or savings or stock kept, I was lying to both Ma and myself if it didn't mean we would starve to death. The irony of my failure killing my mother before that fucking fever would be the lowest part of my already pathetic life.

I shut the box and left the coins in it. Latching it and putting back in the drawer, I shut the drawer and turned around, my body against the counter. I slipped down and sat on the floor with my back on the wood. I placed my head in my hands and counted to ten.

I had made it to eight, with nine just on my lips when I heard a clattering sound come from the open window beside the entrance.