Page 43 of You Can Make Me

“Oh, son. I didn’t even think,” Dad said, his eyes brimming with tears.

“It’s okay. It needed to happen. I haven’t seen myself since the hospital, in the very beginning, when I still had stitches.”

“But you’re so much better?—”

“Mom, I know what I look like.”

She stiffened. “You look like my son. My brilliant, brave, compassionate son!”

Denny tensed, as if to brace himself for me to lose it.

Instead, I draped my legs over his lap and sighed. “Mom, I understand that’s what you see, but I doubt I’ll ever see myself like that again. I’m still figuring out how to navigate this.” I gestured to my face and rolled my eyes.

Dennis gave me a squeeze that was less comforting and more, “Let them have their say. We got this.”

“What do you plan to do next?”

I could rely on Dad to get down to business.

“I’m not sure. Up until y’all got here, I was being a troll. I’m talking like a big boy now, but I can’t be trusted to make big decisions yet. I guess the first step will be to see doctors, talk to my agent and my boss at the network, get serious about physical therapy, and…go from there.” I snuggled closer to Denny and let my eyes fall closed.

That was a lot. The thought of all I needed to do made me bone tired.

“I think it’s time for your nap,” Denny whispered. He guided me out of the booth and once I was on my feet, he supported my weight until we were outside. Then he carried me once more into the house and tucked me into bed.

“I need to make a few calls, and then I’ll be back, okay?”

“I’ll hate it, but I’ll be okay.”

He chuckled, brushed my hair off my forehead and kissed my scar.”I’ll hate it too.”

As soon as my head hit the pillow, I heard something being dragged through gravel.

The pain was intense, but I forced myself to turn and look. The brightly colored tents were so close, maybe a hundred yards.

Welcome, Travelersaid the banner.

I gasped and found myself upright and alone outside the fence surrounding the carnival. It was a wooden structure put together with scrap wood, not chain-link or anything that could actually keep anyone out.

“I told you it was real.”

A man with a familiar voice appeared with his back to me. He turned slowly to face me and smiled.

“Granddad?”

I supposed I shouldn’t have been shocked to see my grandfather standing on the other side of the fence from me,gazing fondly upon the carnival. He’d loved to tell me stories about it.

“I’m sorry it didn’t happen for you, Cooper, but you had a savior.”

“Sorrywhatdidn’t happen? What is this place? How are you here?”

He rocked on his heels and his brow furrowed the slightest bit. His smile turned sad as he looked back at me. “You’ll want to know, but at what cost? You seek answers meant for others, and it will be your demise.”

“My demise?” Why did his words seem so familiar?

“Weigh your options, son. Take care where you trespass. Watch where you tread. Your curiosity could mean the death of innocent souls.”

The sky darkened as we stood side by side, watching the lights come on around the festive tents.