Untethered by Katie Hayoz Read Free Book Online Page B

few seconds and lean into her, wanting to stay like that forever. She’s always been there for me. Put me first. From the moment I told Dr. Hong the truth about what was happening to me.
    I still remember how the doctor’s lips puckered with determination. “You’re not having out-of-body experiences, Sylvie. You’re hallucinating.”
    I still remember the look my parents shared when he said that.
    I’ve looked it up. Online. Starting with the cataplexy and its link to sleep disorders. Then the out-of-body stuff. The first article I read said, “Neuroscientists have proven electric currents to the brain can create the illusion of an out-of-body experience ...” Which didn’t scare me. But when I kept skimming and saw the word schizophrenic, I was too terrified to read on.
    I’ve gotten treated for everything, you name it. With no results. Just a spectrum of allergic reactions to all the medicines.
    Even so, Mom sees me like her cooking: I’m a strange concoction she believes she can turn into something palatable if she tries hard enough. And like her cooking, she never gives up. No matter how obvious it is it won’t get better.
    Right now, in her arms, I crack. I know if I don’t push Mom away, I’ll start bawling. So I pull back and push hard. Despite the fact that I don’t feel it, my voice comes out determined. “I’m not going with Dad, Mom. That’s it.”
    She gently pulls my hand but when I refuse to move, her face turns stony and she nods. She leaves the room. I turn my stereo on again and fall back on my mattress. I wiggle my foot to the music and then Poof! The music’s gone.
    “Hey!” I sit up to see Dad standing next to my bed.
    “You’re coming with me, young lady.”
    “No. I’m. Not.”
    But suddenly he’s grabbing me, scooping me off of my bed and over his shoulder.
    “Let me down! I won’t go! You can’t make me!” I kick and scream as he descends the stairs, but it does no good. He’s stronger than me. We pass Mom at the front door and I give her a dirty look. She hands my dad a bag with my stuff.
    In the car, Sam is huddled under his seat belt in the front. I slide in the back, trying to make my anger as palpable as possible when Dad puts the car into drive. “You’ll see, Sylvie. It’ll be fun.”
    Really? What planet do my parents come from anyways?
    Dad’s apartment is small and beige and smells like vinegar. There’s a bar in the kitchen but no table. He has folding chairs instead of real furniture. Dad shrugs. “I just moved in.”
    He orders us all pizza. We eat it on the living room floor. “Pepperoni and double cheese! Your favorite,” Dad says as he slides about five slices onto my plate.
    I cross my arms and refuse to look at him. “I’m not hungry.”
    My stomach growls like an angry bear.
    Sam reaches into the pizza box. “Well, I am!”
    I watch Sam suck down strings of cheese and cram two pieces of pizza into his mouth at one time. Ugh. I think I prefer him eating his thumbnails. I stand up. “I’m going to bed.”
    Dad, too, has his mouth full. Tomato sauce is smeared on his upper lip and he wipes it off with a napkin. “But I rented a Disney movie.”
    My eyes actually hurt I roll them so hard. “Then I’m definitely going to bed.” Mom threw my pajamas and a toothbrush into the bag she gave to dad. I take it with me to the bathroom, which is the size of a Tic Tac, and change into my pj’s. Then I go into Dad’s study, where a blanket and a pillow have been laid out on the floor for me.
    “I promise I’ll get something more comfortable for you to sleep on for next weekend.” Dad stands at the door. He has a plate piled high with pizza in one hand and a Coke in the other. “I know you’re not hungry, but I’ll leave this in here for the rats. I like to stay on friendly terms with them.”
    He still thinks I’m ten. If I weren’t so angry, I might love him for it. Maybe.
    He puts the plate on his desk and takes his laptop out of the room.