Breathe

<Elsie >

I saw Dad approaching me in his wheelchair. One of our waiters pushed the wheelchair toward me. It felt like my heart stopped beating when I saw him.

    "Why did you come home so early?" he asked suspiciously.

    I bit my lower lip in response to his question. "I was expelled from school…"

    "What are you saying?!" he snapped in a booming voice. "You got kicked out?? Why??! What are you doing again, Elsie??!"

    "There's ecstasy in my locker..."

    Again he interrupted. "You… a user?!"

    "No," I corrected quickly. "Someone put it in my locker!"

    I stopped what I was saying when I saw Dad pressed against his chest again, gripping his hand tightly. "You… let me down… again, Elsie," he whispered, struggling to breathe.

    "Dad, Dad!" I called to him. But he raised his hand as if he didn't want me to touch it.

    "Don't touch me," he said.