Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 139803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
“Meghan,” I called, drawing those beautiful green eyes to me again, “you’re not alone. Not now, not ever again,” I reminded her. “What colors do you bleed, sweet girl?”
A broken smile tilted her lips up the tiniest bit, her eyes filling with the tiniest bit of hope. “Brown and blue,” she whispered as she reached up to gently touch my face.
I turned my face to press a quick kiss to her palm. “That’s right, sweet girl. Brown and blue. You bleed us. Everything will be okay.”
33
My phone rang as I was putting together a banana and strawberry smoothie for Meghan, per her request. With a sigh, I set the knife down and grabbed my phone off the counter beside me, answering my mom’s call. I was a bit worried since she never called me. Once I was out of the house, it was almost as if I ceased to exist except for them putting money in my account every month.
“Hey,” I said when I answered. “Everything okay?”
“No.” I frowned. My mom wasn’t one to tell the truth when things were going wrong or something had happened. She was always too worried about her image, even with her kids. “Your sister found out you’re moving to Massachusetts for a few months, and she’s locked herself in her room. She hasn’t come out in two days. I’m worried what your absence nearby is going to do to her.”
In other words, she was worried what she considered my sister’s tantrum would do to her and my father’s image, when in reality, my sister had probably hit a low and now felt abandoned by me.
I blew out a harsh breath. “I’m on my way,” I told her.
I hung up the phone and walked out of the kitchen. Meghan was passed out on the couch, snoring softly. I brushed a kiss to the top of her head before I went in search of Julian. I found him in their closet, trying to pack her clothes for her.
“Hey, I think my sister is going to need to come to Massachusetts with us,” I told him, leaning against the door frame, stuffing my hands in my pockets.
He turned to look at me. “What’s going on?”
I blew out a harsh breath. “She’s spiraling. Mom doesn’t want to call it that, but she is.”
“How bad is she?” he asked me.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m heading over to find out. I’m hoping that we can just bring her with us, find her a good therapist, and get her some help.” I shook my head. “I’m worried that my parents have let this go on too long though, and that I’m going to have to put my foot down and put her into a center.”
Julian clapped his hand to my shoulder. “Call if you need me, bro.”
I nodded once. “Meghan is asleep on the couch. I was making her a smoothie, but since she’s sleeping, I wouldn’t bother her.”
Julian nodded. “I’ll clean up the kitchen. Get to your sister.”
I quickly walked out to my car and slid into the driver’s seat, easily pulling out of the driveway and onto the road. My parents lived about thirty minutes from Julian’s place. I tried calling my sister, but her phone went straight to voicemail.
That wasn’t a good sign. She always kept her phone on in case she felt like she needed to talk to me. Alli and I were pretty close, but even I had to admit that I hadn’t been reaching out to her as much. Meghan had taken up a lot of my time that I normally reserved for Alli.
When I got to my parents’ place, I knocked once before I let myself in. My mom simply pointed to the stairs, knowing if anyone had any chance of getting through to my sister, it was me.
I jogged up the stairs and knocked lightly on my sister’s door. “Alli, it’s me,” I called. “Come on; open the door for me.”
Nothing. She didn’t even budge. A bad feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. “Alli, come on. If you don’t open this door, I will kick it down.”
Still nothing. Gritting my teeth, real worry for my little sister twisting around my heart, I aimed my foot to the part of her door where her door knob was and crashed my foot against it, sending the door swinging open. Alli was laying on the floor with her entire almost empty bottle of antidepressants lying next to her.
“Alli!” I rushed forward, my heart pounding in my chest. “Mom, call 9-1-1!” I shouted down the stairs. “Fuck, Alli, no,” I whispered, clutching her to me. I pressed my fingers to her pulse, relief flooding my body when I felt her steady heartrate.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and called Julian. “Yeah?” he asked when he answered.