Her head whipped to the side with the force of her mother striking her. Peri gasped, shocked by this turn of events. She felt off balance. Her ears rang briefly. She looked back up at her mother with wide eyes, unsure whether anything else was coming. She wanted nurse, and almost let her eyes slip to the side to seek her out, but managed to hold her gaze on the woman in front of her instead. Her legs were trembling.
Well? her mother said.
This was not a test it was possible to pass, Peri realized. Her mother had been looking for ways to make her stumble from the beginning. She'd asked her questions that had no right answers, grabbed her like that, struck her. This was a test she was always meant to fail. Trying to be stronger would only make it last longer.
She burst into tears, both hands moving to cradle her stinging cheek.
Well? her mother said.
This was not a test it was possible to pass, Peri realized. Her mother had been looking for ways to make her stumble from the beginning. She'd asked her questions that had no right answers, grabbed her like that, struck her. This was a test she was always meant to fail. Trying to be stronger would only make it last longer.
She burst into tears, both hands moving to cradle her stinging cheek.