Fools will be cruel 1

ELIJAH'S POV

I stared at the sterile white ceiling, my legs suspended in traction, the dull ache in my bones a constant reminder of my predicament. The rhythmic beep of monitors filled the air, a monotonous backdrop to the storm brewing in my small hospital room. Mother's heels clicked sharply against the linoleum floor as she paced, each step punctuating her mounting frustration.

"Of all the foolish, selfish things you've done, Elijah," she hissed, her voice low but dripping with venom. "This takes the cake." She stopped abruptly, spinning to face me, her perfectly coiffed hair at odds with the fury in her eyes.

My throat tightened, my mouth dry. I'd known this confrontation was coming, but nothing could have prepared me for the disappointment etched into every line of Mother's face.