2:38
INT. HOUSE ON FERNOTT. 2:38AM.
The Abomination rises from the floor, the blue fabric of their dress pooling around their feet. The butterflies covering their face flutter their wings, their feet fused to the flesh of the Abomination’s face. The Abomination coughs loudly—almost retching—causing the butterflies to break loose from their skin. The butterflies fall to the floor, and black ooze drips from where the Abomination’s mouth should be.
On the floor, one butterfly twitches. Pause for a beat. The butterfly flaps its wings and takes flight. It circles the room before landing on an ornate sculpture of an octopus across the room.
Mom and Dad,
I cannot express enough to you how much it means to have you in my life. I’m so thankful for the relationship we’ve built together. We’ve all grown so much in these few short years; I see it in you and I hope you can see it in me.
Now more than ever, during this Summer which has truly tested my sanity, I’m so grateful to have you there for me. Being able to cry in Dad’s apartment, call Mom for late night talks, and going on road trips to take Eden to school—all of it has been so precious to me.
I wanted to make this painting for us. I wanted to say that I forgive you for everything, and that I’m sorry for being so angry for so long. Thank you. Thank you for giving me the space to become who I needed to be. Thank you for everything. I love you both so impossibly much.
-Noah