The Commander's Daughter

I collected my bags and made my way down the dormitory stairs where Jessica was waiting in her car.

“This is it,” I said, hoisting the last pair of suitcases into the trunk.

I was going to miss the campus life, but Jessica had persuaded me to spend our final college summer back home.

“Sweet. Let’s hit the road,” Jessica said, starting the engine.

Her car was a deep blue Buick Verano, adorned with a small decal of a white cat’s face on the rear window. She had a soft spot for felines.

“How does it feel to finally take a breather from that place?” Jessica asked. “You’ve been on the go nonstop. I worry about you.”

“It feels good. Thanks for convincing me to come home.”

“You’re always enrolled in summer classes,” Jessica noted gently. “What’s the hurry? You’ll graduate soon. Besides, I could use your help at the diner.”

I knew what she was really saying. She wanted me home. We both understood that I was growing up, and Jessica was the only family I had left. It felt nice to be needed. Jessica was the closest thing to a mother I had, apart from some vague memories of my biological parents.

I took a final glance at the college before we pulled away. There was something different about leaving this time. It felt like it might be the last time I’d see this place, which I knew wasn’t true. I’d be back. I was determined to earn that degree. I wanted to make my foster mother proud.

Together, we had my room unpacked and set up within half an hour of arriving home.

“Do you want to come to the diner with me or spend the rest of the night cooped up in your room?” Jessica called from downstairs.

Our home was a quaint two-story house on the outskirts of town. Jessica and I had painted it a vibrant yellow during spring break. We’d planted flowers all around the house. It was her childhood home, and we were constantly working on it. Jessica had taught me so much over the years.

“A burger and fries sound great.” I chuckled and hurried downstairs. “I’m famished.”

She drove us a few blocks to the diner. After dinner, I spent most of the night in my favorite corner booth, watching movies on my phone. Jessica hadn’t assigned me any tables to wait on that day. I didn’t mind, but I enjoyed having something to do.

Before I met her, my previous foster families would make me babysit and clean. I would have done it willingly to repay them for my room and board, but they never gave me the chance to offer. They’d threaten me with a belt or wooden paddle and just scream at me. The last family was the worst. They’d lock me in the basement at night, and they practically used me as a punching bag. Leaving the foster care system to live with Jessica was the best decision I’d ever made.

She treated me as if I was her own daughter. Working at the diner with Jessica brought me joy. We had so many wonderful memories there. She was easy to joke around with. The most challenging part was secretly slipping my tip money back into her tip jar without her noticing. She insisted that I keep my tips, but I knew the cooks and other staff needed the money more.

After the last employee left, Jessica brought the cash drawer over to my booth and began counting it. I’d already cleaned the tables.

“You’re not going to believe this,” she said. “Katrina asked for more shifts. Her kid needs braces. I hope you don’t mind. I gave her the weekend. You’re off,” she said, her eyes still focused on the cash in her hand.

“Poor Timothy. He loves popcorn,” I grimaced at the thought of his favorite snacks getting lodged between the wires. “And no more candy.”

I wondered how I was going to occupy myself this weekend, “Your plan to make me take a break seems to be working.”

“Hey,” she said. “You’ve been working too hard. You need to unwind. When’s the last time you had an evening to just relax and watch stuff on your phone?”

I shrugged. Most nights, I studied until the wee hours. I stood up.

“Don’t you dare wipe down the counter. I’ve already done it.”

I made a face. “Fine.”

I stretched out my arms. Just as I was stretching, a piercing screech filled the diner.

“Ah!” I screamed in pain. My head felt like it was about to burst. For a moment, everything went white. My ears rang. I couldn’t think.

I collapsed to the floor and screamed. Tears streamed down my face and my head throbbed. What was happening to me? The pain was so intense that I couldn’t breathe. It felt like an artery in my head had burst. My heart pounded in fear as I struggled to catch my breath.

“Amy. Talk to me,” Jessica was kneeling beside me. She brushed the hair from my face.

Every artery in my brain felt like it was exploding repeatedly. My hands trembled. My eyes stung. Everything started to blur. Everything hurt.

“I think…I need a…doctor.”

“Amy! Oh, I think I know what’s happening.” Jessica reached into her pocket for her phone. “Hang in there. It’s going to be okay.”

Through my tear-filled eyes, I saw Jessica dialing a number on her phone. The woman on the other end answered almost instantly.

“Charlotte, I need you at the diner, now please. It’s Amy. She’s one of you.”

I wasn’t sure what was happening. My head throbbed as pain coursed through my body. I could barely think.

Jessica held my hand. Her phone had fallen to the floor.

“Amy, do you remember the night we found each other?”

I remembered escaping from the foster family. I had hidden in the alley behind the diner. “It looked cozy here. It looked so warm, so safe.”

“It’s safe here. And you’re still safe with me.”

“Safe,” I echoed. I didn’t feel safe at all.

I felt dizzy. My stomach churned. The world spun. I felt so light. And then everything went black.