#Chapter 124: Quicksand

Kadeem brushes my hair back. "Okay," he says, "But tell me why you're nervous." His voice is gentle. He presses his forehead to mine. I fidget with my hands. Kadeem leans his head back to study me. How do I explain? Even I don't know what's come over me. Something's been swallowing me like quicksand, for a while, but before, I could kind of shake it. Now, I've sunk down too deep. I glance up at Kadeem. His brown eyes, though piercing, have begun to take on a look of caution, like I'm a riddle he can't figure out - and one that might leave him hurting. An apple or a poison apple? My mind slips to Susan. Medicine, or bane? "While you figure out how to answer that," he begins, slowly when I don't respond, "If you're here, I might as well talk to you about something." I force back my scattered thoughts and sigh as I climb out of his lap. "Whatever." I put my arms across my chest, my body tense. What a waste of champagne - no matter how dry and cheap it was. My stoma