After a minute i realized that someone was touching my shoulder. I shrugged it off, unthinking. It came back, harder, stopping me. I snapped back into myself. Looked around, confused. Someone was talking? Someone upset, but trying to keep it in check.

"Julia. Please listen."

It was Mom. I just looked at her, my eyes wide.

"What?" I said.

"Julia," Mom began again, "This is important. Please. Pay. Attention."

I was now. There was nothing more important to me than what she was going to say. Another voice spoke up from behind me.

"Mom, somethings wrong. Julias sick, or something."

"Not now August," Mom said irritably, dismissing him.

"Mom, I'm...