Chapter 11 - THE SCHOOL
Ethan’s school had noticed things too.
Absences.
Different braces.
Conflicting injury stories.
One teacher, Mrs. Lopez, asked Ethan why his cast changed colors between Monday and Wednesday.
Ethan said:
“Mom has backups.”
The teacher thought he meant cast covers.
Then Ethan stopped attending in person.
Martha switched him to home instruction.
Reason:
medical fragility.
School counselor requested updated physician clearance.
Martha sent a letter under Dr. Ward’s name.
Forged.
Approved.
Then Mrs. Lopez mailed Ethan a package:
books,
stickers,
a note saying classmates missed him.
Martha threw it away.
Ethan found it in trash.
That hurt him more than the cast.
Not because of stickers.
Because it proved people still remembered him.
He hid one note under his mattress:
WE HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER SOON.
Sarah later asked:
“Did you think you were sick?”
Ethan nodded.
“Sometimes.”
“What did your mom tell you?”
“That my bones were bad.”
“Did you believe her?”
“Yes.”
There.
Martha had not only deceived institutions.
May you like
She altered Ethan’s understanding of his own body.
That would take longer to repair than any cast.
