Chapter 14

14 Years Old

Tate

Laying in bed I can hear my mother and father talking through the thin wall.

"No, I don't want the girls to know. Not yet." My mother insists in a hushed voice.

"Marlow, they can sense these things. I read it in a pamphlet, you need to tell them."

"No, I'm not dead yet and I won't have my girls looking at me like I'm already gone!"

I squeeze the pillow, my eyes stinging with the urge to cry. I knew my mother was sick. She has been carted to doctor appointment after doctor appointment after she fainted in the kitchen last month. Her and dad have been distant, keeping secrets from Journey and us. I expected the worst, and those expectations were just exceeded.

"This is all my fault. I, I should have been here." My dad's voice is loud, he's not trying to hide the shame he is feeling.

"These things are called a secret killer for a reason Nick. Nobody knew, not even I. How would you have known?"