TWICE the HEARTACHE

u

. I needed to be around people who truly loved me, so I booked

than the engines. I questioned myself, doubted myself. Am I runni

arents' front door. I rang the doo

my mom cried, pullin

ging her back. God knows I nee

ok who's here

airs. "Hey sweetheart, come here-giv

I just wanted to

t them see me like this. I did

y. He held me for a moment, then gentl

Is everything okay?" he asked, c

I'm okay, Dad. I've ju

him, but I didn

room and come down for a

w hours. I'll come down later," I

ush-just gav

e way I had left it. I dropped my bags on the floor, co

a's

I usually stop by the library afterward. But just as I was lost in my

, your sister is home. May

Lucy was home! I had missed her so much, and I had so much to tell he

to my friends and h

open. "Hey, Mom! Hey, Dad!" I

or quietly-she was fast asleep. But something didn't look right. H

rself tightly. Then she whispered through clenched teeth, "No... plea

t's just a dream. I'm here-it's me. You're

ce trembling as she held onto m

open, wide with f

breathed, clut

I was little and afraid of the dark. I

in a long time, I realized how fragile my big sister had become. She was always the strong

ed, brushing the hair fro

place she felt safe. Her breathing started to slow, but I could still feel her hear

I knew this wasn't the time. She looked like she hadn't slept in da

e of us had a bad day. The posters on the wall were faded. Her favorite books still lined the shelves, untouched. It was like time h

g had br

ure if I knew

-

she drifted in and out of sleep. Eventually, she relaxed j

tchen, quietly chopping vegetable

she asked, h

hen shook my h

ong but hoped she was wrong. "She wouldn't talk

pened," I said quietly, le

d chopping

me worry I felt reflected in her face. The silenc

eds us,

alway

-

e. There was one of Lucy and me from last Christmas, both laughing like the world was

up and hold her all over again. But somethin

exhaustion. Or stress.

ome home f

ng to find ou

tter