Resilient by Patricia Vanasse

know, but…” I don’t know. I should have told her I was having problems with Aphrodite; I should have warned her.
    “Come on!” Dad gets on his feet “I’m gonna take you to see her.”
    Dreading it, I follow Dad down the hallway and we stop outside of her room. Mr. Berwick is there and ready with a pat on my shoulder. “Thank you so much. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t come looking for her.” 
    The smile I give him in return is full of guilt that I hope he can’t see.
    Inside, Livia is lying down with her right leg propped up and covered in a purple cast. “Hi,” I say and she gives me a flat smirk. “Purple looks good on you!” Her lips widen just a bit. 
    She waves me closer. I take a seat on the edge of her bed. “I’m sorry,” I say, reaching for her hand as she looks into my eyes. My heartbeat races and I wonder if she notices the effect she has on me. I wonder if she’s feeling the same.
    “I should have waited for you.” She looks down and slightly shakes her head. “It’s not like I’ve never ridden before. I thought I could handle it.”
    “I should have warned you that it wasn’t safe for you to take Aphrodite out on your own.” 
    “You did warn me.” She pulls her hand from mine. “They said I’ll have to use this cast for at least two months.”
    “Two months will go by fast. It could be way worse.”
    “I guess I have no choice,” she says, her eyes filled with tears. “Would you mind coming over sometimes to take Aphrodite for a ride? I would hate for her to be stuck in that barn until I’m better.” She looks up at me and a tear trickles down her face. I reach over and smear it away with my thumb.
    “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of her until you feel better.” 
    She fixes her eyes on mine once again. Her gaze is remarkably intimidating, like she can see right through me. 
    Just then, Mrs. Berwick walks in with her twin boys, knocking on the door as they enter. I stand up and step away from the bed to let Livia’s brothers have time with her. I gesture awkwardly, letting her know that I’m leaving. Her gaze follows me all the way out of the room.
    I walk down the hallway to Dad’s office, checking my phone. Kevin left a voicemail letting me know that he took care of Bader for me. I want to hang around the hospital longer, but I know when I’ve overstayed my welcome. When I reach Dad’s office the door is closed and I hear a loud male voice inside; it’s not Dad’s. I lean closer to the door; I feel anger swelling on the other side.
    “I want to see the medical report, and if you don’t give it to me, then who’s to say you’re not trying to hide something?” The man shouts.
    “What could I possibly be trying to hide?” There’s Dad’s voice. “The incident happened seventeen years ago. We don’t keep files for that long.”
    “Dr. Cooper, answer me this. Doesn’t it seem too convenient that your son, born with lung failure, not only miraculously survived but could breathe all on his own the next day, and somehow the strong and healthy boy I brought in here died of a rare lung condition? He was not even sick! He was here for a gunshot wound!”
    “I remember it very well. A gunshot wound to the thigh, and you didn’t want to file a report with the police.” My father’s tone is the same faintly accusing one he uses on me when he harasses me for spending too much time in the barn.
    “You’re not listening.” The man’s tone oozes desperation. “He has to know who he is. His life depends on it!”
    I wrest open the door, his words echoing in my ears. “What the hell is going on here?” 
    Dad’s eyes go wide when he sees me. The other man looks at me, irritated. It’s the same guy who was shouting at Kim yesterday.
    “We’re having a private meeting here,” he says. I look from my dad to him and I don’t break eye contact until his anger dissipates to nothing. I watch as his legs tremble and he sits down on