Lost Creek Hollow only suffering can teach

indra had expected tantrums, even outrage -- and instead, merrick presented her with resigned indifference.

her countenance fractured, a sliver of pain deepening in her mahogany eyes. how could he not care? did he not love her the way she loved him - was he not her son, and she the wretched, lucky mother that had somehow created him?

her beautiful, cruel, beloved boy straightened so he stood tall if not taller than her. somehow the motion seemed as if he unshouldering himself from the fretting burden of his silly, stupid mother.

her throat constricted and a sting of tears refusing to be shed  hit her. she drew a shaky breath, steeling herself with a hopeless sorrow. she had spent her entire life being callously indoctrinated to the mantra that everyone eventually abandoned her -- and now the life (and the hurt) she had never wanted her son to behold were being breathlessly stolen from her own pained experiences and transposed mercilessly to her son.

"yes, merrick. everyone leaves." she retorted, her temper lost by the hurtful apathy of merrick's response. fearing her anger would spill over into an action she would spend the rest of her life regretting, indra quickly spun away.