“It’ll be really good for you to get out of this place,” Annabelle states as if reading my mind, forking up a big mouthful of eggs. She gives me a wry grin as she shoves it all in her mouth.
I chuckle at her, but I’m still worried about this weekend.
“You’ll call me if you get sick, right? Or if you need anything. I’ll come home in a heartbeat.”
“It’s two days, Mia. You need a rest. I’ll be totally fine here, and Dad’ll have his shift at the construction site on Saturday. I can read my book and watch TV. It’ll be nice not having you underfoot all day, forcing me to drink water every five minutes.”
“Fine, I’ll text you every hour to remind you, instead.”
She laughs, flicking food at me as there is a pounding on the wall from my dad’s room. I glower at it as we both fall silent, eating the rest of our breakfast without speaking.
I’m going to get us out of here and make my sister well again. Whatever it takes.
Chapter 2
Amelia
“You have your pills?”
“Yes.”
“You have the doctor’s number and my number?”
Annabelle groans, pushing me toward my car. “Of course I do. I’m gonna be fine. Get in the car. Leave.”
“Okay, now I feel like you’re trying to get rid of me.”
“Go!”
She laughs as I get into the car, glancing back one last time. My sister stands beside the chain-link fence outside our house, looking like a Scottish maiden bidding farewell to her laird. She’s so beautiful, it hardly seems real sometimes.
Annabelle waves madly as I roll down the window and wave back. The engine barely turns over, and I can only hope my shitty car will get me to my destination without dying.
She’ll be fine. Nothing is going to happen just because I’m away for two nights.
Still, as I begin the long drive, I can feel the guilt rise through me like a tidal wave. I’m leaving her alone with just our parents for the whole weekend. I haven’t done that since she got sick.
I sigh as I maneuver out of our tiny street toward the highway. My parents aren’t bad people. They’re drunks and useless at holding down a job for more than a few months, but they could be a lot worse.
The one thing I know for sure is that they won’t care for Annabelle while I’m gone. My mom gave me responsibility for my younger sibling when I was only five years old. I’ve been caring for Annabelle her entire life, and they rely on me for that. It won’t occur to my mother to ask if she’s taken her pills, if she’s slept, if she needs water or extra food.
Mom’ll head out to her waitressing job, then go on a bender all weekend and get back and fight with my equally drunk father. It’s a scene I’ve been watching since childhood, and it isn’t going to change any time soon.
I put my foot on the gas, willing myself not to turn the car around and drive straight back.
I glance into the rearview one last time, set my jaw, and keep going. This weekend will be a break, and when I’m back, I can discuss the LUNA treatment the doctor outlined with her again. It’s hundreds of thousands of dollars, but if I had to put a price tag on my sister’s life, I’d spend millions to save her.
Maybe I should start an OnlyFans.
By the time I arrive, it’s dark. The house Hope has rented for the weekend is enormous with an immaculate lawn. Light spills out onto the grass from the windows, and I can hear the laughter and screams of the other women as I approach. I’m pretty sure I’m the last one to arrive.
The front of the house is full of huge windows, and I can see inside as I drive forward. Several beautiful women are dancing; short dresses and strappy heels on display.
I glance down at my jeans and T-shirt, feeling out of place already.
Nerves bubble up in me. I just hope it’s not going to be too insane over the next two days. I don’t usually drink a lot, knowing what alcohol has done to both my parents, but I doubt I’ll have much of a choice this weekend.
I park the car around the side, grateful that my arrival has gone unnoticed. It gives me time to compose myself before I go in.
