Eighty-Three

Justin was cutting off the heads of the fish he had caught the night before. He slit the belly from the vent to the head and removed the innards carefully before peeling off the skin and rinsing the catfish thoroughly in the water to clean off the scales.

He planned to sell some and then give the rest to his mother to make a delicious catfish stew and some fillets. Lost in his little world, he didn't realize his mother was calling him until he heard her urgent voice behind him.

"She's awake!" his mother cried out. Justin's heart skipped and he dropped the fish, washed his hands and rushed inside.

"Are you sure, Mother?" he asked, wide eyed and stood in the hallway. His mother nodded excitedly. "Her eyes are open. She kept staring at me without saying anything."

Justin didn't hesitate. He rushed to the spare room where the girl he had rescued from drowning three weeks ago. She had been unconscious, and initially, they thought she was dead. He entered the room quietly, careful not t