“My name is Lucas Crawford. Amelia tells me there’s a new treatment for Annabelle?”
Dr. Monroe frowns. “Yes. Amelia has already arranged the first LUNA dose through the specialty pharmacy. We’re just waiting on clearance to get started. Could you please clarify your involvement in this?”
“I’m financing it.” I open my mouth to protest, but he holds up his hand like I’m entirely separate from the conversation. “Whatever she needs, whatever the cost, I’ll cover it.”
Dr. Monroe’s head whips around to me, her mouth falling open as she stammers out her final question.
“Is this true?”
Lucas turns to me, eyes dark with quiet determination.
There’s a piece of me that wants to fight, my pride rising to argue the point. But the logical part of my brain knows better. This is going to change everything. All my worries, my fears about what might become of my sister, are solved.
I should be happy, but my whole body feels as if it’s going to dissolve right here.
“Yes,” I whisper.
“Good,” Lucas says, short and perfunctory. “Do everything required to save her.”
Dr. Monroe takes his card, nods her head, and goes back into Annabelle’s room. I follow her, not looking at him as I walk by.Should I thank him?I don’t feel particularly grateful—this is clearly his way of assuaging his guilt for getting rid of me.
I walk into Annabelle’s room to find her deeply asleep. She looks tiny in the bed, thin and pale, but the weak daylight outside, even in the drizzling rain, is flooding through the window. The room is light and cool, with an ensuite bathroom and a sink beside her bed for fresh water.
I watch her, the relief slowly beginning to settle on my shoulders. I have never felt as tired as I do right now.
“Amelia.”
I turn around, not sure what to say to him. He’s standing behind me, his hands in his pockets, sweater falling effortlessly over the body I know so well.
I’m never going to be able to touch him again.
“What do you need?” he asks slowly.
I swallow, the numbness I feel at the back of my mind beginning to spread through my whole body. In truth, I need to go home. My impulsive decision to walk out of my parents' house was satisfying in practice, but even with the bag I have packed, I’ve realized how much I have left behind that I need to collect.
Might as well use him for the short time he’s here.
“Is Melvin with you?” I ask quietly.
“Always.”
“I could do with going home. I need to pick up a few extra things,” but as I say so, I turn, gnawing at my lip as I stare at Annabelle.
“She’s sleeping,” Dr. Monroe says gently from behind me. “The best thing you can do now is get some rest, Amelia. You must be exhausted.”
I nod and walk slowly out of the room. Lucas falls into step beside me as we walk, but I can’t speak. This is it. This is the end.
We reach the car, and I climb in. There are no funny exchanges with Melvin; he’s completely silent. I catch his eye in the rearview, but can’t deal with the look of pity on his face.
I feel as if my sister is dying, not that she’s saved.
I barely register the journey, staring out at Brooklyn as we drive through the suburbs. Kids cycle past on their bikes, hooting and hollering at the fancy car.
As we reach my street, Melvin pulls to a stop, and to my horror, Lucas gets out before I can say anything. I scramble to follow him as he walks up the drive.
“You can’t come in!” I squeak.
He turns to me, giving me a long stare that makes me want to fall to my knees and beg him to take me back.
