The stupid nurse doesn't want to give me extra painkillers. She doesn't seem to get how much this dumb leg stump hurts. Cynthia doesn't get my need to keep those curtains shut. And if I thought before that those damned crutches were bad, imagine now that I can't even get out of this bed; not even to go to the damned restroom. To make this even worse, I haven't seen Jeanne once ever since I left home for that surgery three days ago.

It's torture, I tell you.

"How are you feeling, Mathilde?" Cynthia stays with me after taking Jeanne to school and only leaves when it's time to pick her up again. She's constantly asking me how am I feeling, or if I need anything, which was pretty nice of her the first day, but it's quickly getting old.

"Like shit. What else did you expect?" I see the way she opens her mouth to ask, and I cut her short. "Don't dare ask if I need anything!"

Instead of getting mad at me, she takes my hand and kisses it, later sliding a ring on my finger.

"That's my Grandma's Lucky Ring." She explains. "I was ready to sell it the day before I met you, and I'm sure it led me to you."

"Weren't you always a foster kid?"

"I told you I was with my Grandma until she died when I was five. She was quite old. I sometimes wonder if she wasn't actually my Great Grandmother." Her eyes examine the ring in my own finger, and her smile is wide, genuine and full of love. "She gave me this ring before she passed away. It has always been my treasure."

"Ah, beautiful story." I could recognize Meredith's nasal voice from miles away. When I lift my eyes to the door, she's entering with a huge bouquet that she leaves on my side table.

"What the hell are you doing here, Meredith?"

"Jesus Christ, cut that out already. You've been through surgery, I came to see how were you doing."

"As you can see, I'm still alive." I say, trying my best to bring as much sarcasm as I can to my voice. I know exactly why this little bitch is here. "And no, you're still not inheriting anything from me. You can leave."

"Please, mother. I know I haven't been the best daughter by any standards, but you're still my mother and I care about you." Perhaps it's something in her icy tone, but I don't buy a word she says. "And you're dismissed. I'll take care of my mother from now on, thank you." This she says to Cynthia, who has been quietly holding my hand so far. The icy tone is probably infectious because Cynthia purposefully spits ice spikes as she speaks.

"Mathilde. Should I leave you with your daughter?"

"Yes, you should— "</p>

"No, you definitely shouldn't." I tell her, interrupting Meredith, who doesn't look pleased. "I'm afraid I have no reason to trust her. She'll try to poison my food if you're not around."

"As you wish." Cynthia replies, and sits straight on her chair, still holding my hand. Her icy eyes match her tone as she addresses Meredith. "As you certainly understand, whoever you are or whatever your name is, I'm not here for your sake or by your orders, so you don't have the right to dismiss anything. If you want to take care of your mother, you can pretty much take that chair over there and wait until I'm gone. She still needs assistance in the afternoons and nights."

"How dare you boss me around, you disgusting thug?" Meredith hisses, before turning around to me. "I don't know why you keep this woman with you after the embarrassing display from last time."

"Look, Meredith." I snap, because her presence here is pretty unwelcome even without her smart mouth spitting venom. "If you wanna play the good daughter card with me, so be it. I'll bear with you, even though I don't trust you one bit. But keep your fucking mouth shut, because I can make security throw you out of here by pressing a button, and I'm wishing you give me a reason to do so."

She purses her lips as she glances at us in turns, silent for a change, and sits exactly where Cynthia told her to sit. But I'm too old and wise to fall for this goody-two-shoes act. I don't trust her intentions.

I wink at Cynthia, who still holds my hand. In my hand rests her ring.Can't help thinking how Meredith showed up the second Cynthia put this ring onmy finger. This is no lucky ring. It's probably cursed.