#Chapter126
Mariana
Casey
I arrived at Mariana’s house, making my way to the kitchen. I stood at the doorway to see her dancing and singing along to the songs playing on her phone. She turned, saw me, and jumped, dropping her bowl of ingredients onto the floor.
/"Don’t do that,/" Mariana said, picking the bowl and ingredients off the floor.
/"Sorry,/" I said, walking over to her.
She put the bowl on the counter. /"Shouldn’t you be in school?/"
/"I should, but I needed to do something./"
/"What’s that?/"
I hugged Mariana, which surprised her.
/"Thanks for being my mom./" That’s all it took, and Mariana hugged me back. Then I released her. /"I’m sorry that I called you, my incubator. Someone made me realize that you’re more than that to me./"
/"Casey, what’s wrong? You don’t seem like yourself./"
I sat down at the kitchen table as Mariana joined me.
