Chapter 9

I fell back asleep. I didn’t know when they left. Tom was sitting there. He was playing with something. I smelled something bad.

He saw I was awake.

He came to me with what he had been holding.

“Laura, I was going to come yesterday, but I was looking for something.”

“I found your letters. Why didn’t you tell me there were stamps in them?”

“It’s me, your brother. I like stamps.” I smiled.

Tom liked stamps. Dad thought he was wasting his time, so I put the stamps in the letters. Tom never opened them. I took the letters.

They were dirty. I opened them. Tom stopped me. The letters had stamps, and they were my secrets. I wrote something in each letter.

“Tom, do you like Sarah more? You’re a liar. You said you liked Laura best.”

“Tom, why aren’t you talking to me? I want to play with you. As long as you’re happy.”

“It’s my birthday. My first birthday since I came home. Did you get me a present?”

“It’s okay if you don’t like me. I’ll always like you best.”

They were all my secrets. Tom looked at the letters.

The last one said, “Laura will never like Tom again.”

I held it up. “Do you remember this? It was a week after Sarah died.”

“You made me kneel and apologize. You made me say I killed her.”

“You weren’t my brother anymore. I gave you to Sarah.”

Tom was shaking. “Laura, will you ever forgive me?”

I didn’t say anything. I put the letters on the table. I lay down and closed my eyes. The Millers and Nick came to the hospital, talking.

I didn’t want to talk to them. The sun was shining. I felt good. I looked at Maria.

“Take me outside.”

“I feel better. I have more energy.”

Maria shook her head. I got out of bed. L Maria hesitated, then teared up. I knew.

“It’s okay. They’re not here. Please.”

“The sun’s shining. Today’s a good day.”

Maria stopped me in the hospital garden. I closed my eyes. It felt good. Something touched my hand.

It was Nick.

He put his head on my hand. I wanted to move. I didn’t have the strength.

“Laura, say something. I’ll die if you don’t.” I shook my head. I’d said everything. I didn’t have anything to say. I closed my eyes.

I saw Mom, Dad, and Tom running toward me. They were yelling. I didn’t want to hear them. I looked up, wanting to feel the sun.

I felt a tear roll down my face. I was tired. Don’t meet me again. Mom, Dad, Tom, and Nick.

Don’t meet me again.

THE END