How to Play Pretend (Prologue)

Prologue

“So you say she’s unable to focus, can’t get simple tasks done, so on?” The doctor peers through his glasses down to me, making me feel like a bug under a microscope.
“Yes,” my mom answers quietly.
“Well, it sounds like a severe case of ADHD.” Of course, as a six year old, I don’t know what that means, but my mom clutches my dad’s arm like he could protect her from this. “It might make her life a little bit harder, but she’ll be able to cope,” the doctor assures them.
My mom steps forward, looking determined. “We’ll take care of her,” she declares. “She won’t face these challenges without us at her side.”
My dad nods his agreement, stepping to the side and unlatching himself from my mother’s grasp. “Fey will live a happy life.”
They stay true to their promise, taking care of my every need. I don’t need to worry about chores or grades or even picking out my clothes. If there’s anything at all that disrupts me, my parents make a call and after they say the words “extreme ADHD," the problem is gone in a second.

It’s an easy, enjoyable life. No problems, no worries, no responsibilities.
Until one day, it isn’t.