O

said with air quotes. "For days, random people stared at me on the streets

't stop apologizing for leaving you all alone to be with Trevor when I

ned was not your fault. You can't always be there to protect me. Th

as she took my hand in hers, squeezing it gently. You can'

ful, everyone likes you, and you have a boyfriend who's crazy about you," I chuckled sadly, "

s a walking target with every gaze on me dripping with disdain. I couldn't

ould have been like if I had been born

er finger, turning my face towards her. "You're beautiful inside and out, and someday

ine voice spoke from behind my bedr

pearing at the doorway. "Relax, it's just m

nd clutching my chest. I dropped my hands,

layfully scolded. "You weren't supposed to re

g before schedule, so I thought

rop on us, didn't you?" I

f you were talking so loudly," he playfully

ting out a small smil

aid, standing up from my bed. "But I've got to go before Trevor start

ng her a thumbs

the two of us, o

hlia smiled, blowing dad an

plied as Dahlia scurried p

promised, disappe

r to my bed. "Are you okay, sweet pea?" he asked, his

half-hearted smile tuggin

front of me, sweetie. If you're having too much of a

better." I said, blinking back the tears that were threat

e schools so many times, but I didn't agree. I didn't want to run away. And eve

ed photograph on the wall where my mom's radiant smiling face hung, "She always

er vibrancy- just one hug and kiss from her could have wiped away the heartache I

ll with him. He would stare at mom's photo and rant about his day in the office, like he always did when she was still alive. It was almost like he never fully accepted that she was gone-maybe because he didn't get the oppor

he walls of this house cemented a hole in our hearts. They were both a ray of light and a bundle of joy to this family, and when that light and joy w

and unwavering sacrifices that the lost flames

had always comforted me. "Mom and Rachael would be so proud of you." I flashed h

n he got up from the bed. "How about we go

I asked, arching

"Yeah, you

nd I took his hand, standing to my feet. We l