OK, this is a first. But I don’t say anything. Instead I hold my breath. My eyes are shut again, and I become intensely aware of the sun beating dow... on my forehead while their hands apply the cream. I swear I feel a little pinch on my left nipple as Alyssia’s hand retreats for the last time. And did they take a little longer than necessary? “Nothing worse than burnt tits, hey?” Alyssia says to the world in general. “Gotta take care…especially when they’ve not seen the sun before. Your nips. Best we got is a horse doctor.’ ‘Well I do have some medical training. I was a medic in the military, but I suppose I know more about being a doctor them most of the doctors around here.’ I didn’t know for sure, but with the other weird things, meeting what appeared to be my great grandfather obviously living on what should have been an abandonedhomestead, I was beginning to have an idea. And yes, if what I thought was true, then I did indeed have more medical training than any doctors around. Hell, I’ve been so involved with my family and working to get back to college, I haven’t had a boyfriend for so long. I didn’t want you to think I was some kind of slut jumping at anyone half interested.”“Dear, we are much more than ‘half interested’. We were taken by you early this evening and have grown to more as the events have unfolded. Again, as I said, we want this to be safe for you and we will. We won’t do anything that will take your comfort and safety away. Finally, are you calling. ‘She doesn’t look good, Scarlet. I’ve never seen your mom look so…sick. I’m sorry.’ Scarlet closed her eyes and breathed deep a few times. She could feel the tears prickling behind her eyelids, but she refused to let them fall. She still hadn’t completely forgiven her mother for forcing her into this, though she was beginning to understand why she’d done it. ‘Do you think I’ll ever see her again, Joey?’ ‘I don’t know…the doctors haven’t given her a lot of time. A month, maybe more.’ ‘Shit.’ She.