Over the course of the next few weeks, Mindy forgets about the uneasy feeling she felt that day. Things progress as they tend to do. Mindy watches from over her book as Elizabeth plays on the floor with her dolls in the living room. She smiles before returning her gaze to her book.

Elizabeth doesn't let her eyes drift from her dolls as she speaks up in a monotone voice. "Why did you lie to David?"

Mindy looks up from her book. "I didn't lie to your brother. Why do you think I did?"

Elizabeth turns and looks Mindy in the eye with a dead serious expression on her face. "Don't act like I'm just a silly girl. We both know what you've done."

Mindy is rendered speechless for a few moments. "How do you know?"

Elizabeth looks at Mindy in confusion. "What are you talking about Minty?"

"You just said..."

"I asked if I could have a cookie."

Mindy, dumbfounded nods and Elizabeth runs to the kitchen, leaving Mindy to her thoughts. The door to the apartment opens and David enters. Mindy stands and David walks over and kisses her.

"How was your day?"

"Pretty good...Elizabeth said some pretty creepy things just now."

David sighs. "Again? Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth runs back into the room with a cookie in her hand. "Yes?"

"What did you say to Mindy?"

"Nothing."

David crosses his arms. "Don't lie. Did you learn it from Auntie?"

"No! I'm not lying!" Elizabeth runs off to her room and slams the door behind her.

David huffs. "She always does this. At least she isn't blaming anyone this time. Are you okay?"

Mindy nods. "I'm fine. I better start dinner."

David shakes his head. "Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it tonight."

Mindy raises an eyebrow. "You sure? Usually I..."

David puts a finger to Mindy's lips. "Relax. Tonight I'm doing things. Sorry about Elizabeth. Sit down and rest, you must be exhausted."

David leaves the room once Mindy sits back down. She shakes her head in bewilderment. "My mind has officially been blown. What's with everyone today?"

...

David looks up from his plate, to Mindy. He smiles at her from across the table. Mindy raises an eyebrow.

"What about Elizabeth?"

"I let her eat in her room tonight. I thought it was time we had a night to ourselves. Is that alright?"

Mindy blushes and nods. "So...what comes after dinner?"

David smirks. "What do you want to come after dinner?"

Mindy looks down to her plate to avoid his gaze. "This steak is fantastic."

"I have plans for us tonight."

...

David kisses soft kisses down Mindy's neck. When she lets out a moan, he covers her mouth. "Elizabeth is sleeping."

...

The next morning, David wakes Mindy by gently rubbing her feet. She rubs her eyes groggily and hums happily.

"What's with you lately? We haven't done...that in months."

"I just realized how precious you are. Don't worry about a thing. I already made breakfast and Elizabeth is watching tv. Just relax and let me take care of things."

Mindy frowns. "David. I can do things myself."

David smiles sweetly and shushes her. "You don't have to anymore."

Mindy narrows her eyes and yanks her foot away. "You're only being nice because you feel sorry for me."

David shakes his head. "I don't want you to make yourself sick. I can do it for you. What does it matter?"

Mindy covers her chest with the bed sheet. "You had pity sex with me!"

"Don't you want me to help you?"

"Not if it means treating me like I'm dying! I'm not sick anymore, I can take care of myself. I knew eventually you'd do this. It's so degrading. All the kids at school did it. They thought because I was sick, I was stupid. They'd offer to tie my shoes and do my homework." Mindy huffs. "When I had the best grade in the class, no less."

"I'm just trying to accommodate to your needs better."

"Treat me like your girlfriend, until you come to your senses, I refuse to sleep in the same room as you."

David huffs and gets out if bed. After he's dressed, he leaves the room and slams the door behind him. Mindy rubs her forehead in frustration.

"Why? As soon as I start to think he'll let it go, he does all this. Joy."

She huffs as she glances at her alarm clock. "I'm not in the mood to spend the next year acting like super girl. I hate it when people do this to me. He isn't going to back down easy, they never do, and every time I trip or get a cold he'll be rushing me to the hospital. Why can't people just treat me like a normal human being?! It's always either too harsh or too overbearing."

She hears the door to the apartment slam closed and sighs. "Was I too mean?"

...

Mindy scrubs at a spot on one of the dishes in frustration. A pair of hands rest on her shoulders.

"I can do it if you want."

Mindy narrows her eyes at the dish. "I spent most of my life too weak to clean up after myself. So as long as I'm able, I'm going to wash my own dishes."

David huffs. "That doesn't mean you have to do everything."

"Apparently it does. You obviously think I'm too weak to walk, and that I can't help out around the house."

"No. I don't."

"Then why the sudden change?"

David removes his hands from Mindy's shoulders. She turns to look at David, expectantly waiting an answer.

"Elizabeth has been saying so many strange things lately, and you know how she picks things up."

Mindy lets the plate fall into the water. "What do you think I'm telling her?"

"I don't know. But you're with her all day. It's either you or her imaginary friend. I took her out of one bad household already. If it's too much on you, I can do more."

...Ten years ago...

Mindy walks down the school hallway, books in her hands. She smiles as she enters her classroom and takes her seat. The bell rings while the remaining students enter the classroom. Once everyone is seated, Mindy gets called over by the teacher. She frowns as she crosses the room to stand by her teacher.

Her teacher looks at her in concern. "Do you need to go to the nurse? You look really pale today."

"I'm always pale."

"You know what I mean."

Mindy shrugs. "I got a transfusion on Saturday. I should be okay."

"Are you sure?"

Mindy smiles and nods. "They'd tell me if I needed more blood. It's not like I'm a vampire, I don't need a truck load of it to sit at my desk."

The teacher smiles slightly. "If you're sure..."

Mindy turns and returns to her desk. The girl sitting to her left stares at Mindy's uneven stomach, noticeable through her shirt. She asks in a whispered voice.

"What's that?"

Mindy sighs and opens one of her books. "I don't like to talk about it."

"Okay."

Two minutes later the girl asks once more. "What's that?"

Mindy ignores her and focuses on her worksheet. A few minutes later she hears the girl whispering in her ear.

"Mindy...Mindy...Mindy...Mindy...Mindy...Mindy...Mindy..."

Mindy turns to face the girl. "What?"

The girl points to Mindy's stomach. "What's that?"

"My stomach." Mindy answers in exasperation.

The girl furrows her brows. "No it isn't. It looks weird."

"Why'd you ask if you're not going to listen?!"

"Okay. I understand."

Mindy smiles in relief. "Thank you."

Five minutes later the girl taps on Mindy's shoulder. When Mindy turns to face the girl, she notices the girl is staring at her stomach again.

"What's that?"

Mindy presses her lips together and forces a smile as she snaps the pencil in her hands. "Please stop. You always ask me and I always...please stop asking. It's none of your business."

Mindy turns back to her work. One minute later the girl passes Mindy a note. She opens it and rips it upon reading the few words written. She then silently returns to her work.

...Present day...

Mindy crosses her arms. "I haven't said anything like that to her. I'm careful about what I say. Believe whatever you want, but I'm your girlfriend. You need to trust me."

David sighs. "I know. But after my aunt..."

"Yeah, well no offense but I'm not an alcoholic. I don't abuse anyone, let alone kids. Maybe Elizabeth heard it on tv or something."