a Sala

to walk, to appear normal. Getting home was a victory, but the air within the house felt thin and stra

tching, her hand occasionally ruffling his hair. He looked up when I entered, his eyes meeting mine for a fleeting second before

time when Debbra used to ca

ound each other on a graduation day years ago. I reached out, my fingers tracing the cool glass, before I

wore the silk robe I'd bought for her birthday, the one I'd admired for months before finally splurging on

eplace. My spot. The place I always stood when I came home, to warm mys

held a thick envelope in my hand. "Actu

me? Juliana, you shouldn't have. You always spoil me." Her eyes, h

r hand. It contained the deed to the Salazar family home, the house my parents built, the

ment. Her eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. "Juliana... this i

up beneath my ribs, a cold draft where something solid used to be. "A gift. A special gift for

ing confusion-crossed her face. Then, she quickly regained her innocent facade, her eyes welling up with t

s cold and clear in my mind. My future was meas

, just for her. "I just want you to be happy, Debbra. Trul

damp. He froze, seeing us so close, my head near Debbra's ear.

Juliana is so good to me! She's given me the house! Our house!" She sobbed into hi

eadable. A mix of shock, relief, and a hint of a

urned to Elwin, who was still glued to his game, barely acknowledging my

g the screen. Then, without looking at me, he turned to

ble curve of her lips. "Of course, sweetie. An

nocent voice, my brother's voice

the cool plaster of the hallway wall to keep my balance. The physical pain was a dull throb compared to the gaping wound that

ressure built behind my eyes. The cancer, usually a silent, insidious thief, roared to life, its tendrils twisti

d they had alre

A stranger in my own clothes. "Three weeks," I whispered to the woman staring bac