He wasn't out for long, Mom's power supported him, easing him into an empty chair, everyone else staring when his eyes fluttered, opened, a giant lungful of air gasped before he leaned forward, hands flat on the table as he stared into my eyes in shock and, wait. Was that?

Regret. Whoops. My skill for screwing up and doing the opposite of what was actually required or wanted made itself known in a rather spectacular fashion. Still, I couldn't bring myself to feel badly about ...