Length: 6,875 words (2/3) Rating: T for language and distressing themes TWs: nightmares, PTSD, non-graphic descriptions of pain
“You doin’ okay?”
Kate chews the end of the pen as her mouth goes dry, then swallows hard and wets her lips. “I’m not sure how to answer that.”
Her mom shrugs a little. “Honesty’s always a great start.”
“Well, I'm honestly not sure how to answer that,” she barely avoids snapping.
“Katie…”
The words explode out of her before she’s even processed them.
“I left New York to come home for a week of tornado research, and instead I’m looking at a month of itchy medical shit, and a couch that’s older than I am, and—and stupid fucking reruns,” she finishes, breathing a little too heavy, and chucks her pen at the TV. “And that’s not fair.”
