My father is gone.
I didn’t even get to say goodbye.
The pressure in my chest grows painful as I attempt to suck in a breath. My own sobs echoing those of Will’s. This room they brought me to is one filled with sadness and heartbreak. It’s the room where they tell the family their loved one won’t be coming home.
I hate this room.
I hate God. I hate dementia. I hate everything.
As we fall apart together, all I can do is cling to my older brother. The only person I have left in my life.
Something is wrong.
Somewhere between the first and second periods, Cora and Lyla disappeared. It’s now the third period, and they still haven’t made it back.
I’m trying to focus on the game, but my intuition is telling me something is terribly wrong. I need to find her.
Coach motions for me to come in, so I do. I watch as Pender replaces me.
“Where is your head at?” Coach yells at me.
“Something is wrong, Coach. I can’t explain it,” I tell him.
He frowns. “Get checked out after the game.”
There are only five minutes left, but it feels like an eternity. Thankfully we win, but I can’t celebrate with everyone else. As soon as I can, I beeline for the locker room. I don’t bother to shower or take any of my pads off. Instead, I grab my phone.
There are no messages.
I growl, sitting on the bench as I type one out to Lyla.
Me
Where’d you go, baby?
I wait for a response, but there is none.
“Get changed. Cora took her home,” Kellan tells me.
“Why?” I ask.
“Get changed.”
I don’t like the look on his face, but I start to strip.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” I demand.
“I don’t know. Cora doesn’t either. She took her to the hospital. She didn’t want to impose, so she’s waiting in the waiting room.”
My stomach sours.
Jerry.
I tear off my pads, leaving them on the floor with my skates. I smell like ass, but I can’t afford to shower right now. Lyla needs me. I know it. I pull on my sweats and a T-shirt, slipping my feet into my shoes without bothering with socks.
“I need to get to her.”
I don’t bother waiting for a response. I hear Kellan yell to one of the guys to grab my things and take them home. Then he is jogging behind me.
