I woke to the sharp sting of antiseptic, back in the hospital. The room was empty except for a nurse scribbling down machine readings. When she saw me stir, she said, flat and professional, "Elliot and Ryan sent me to check on you."
I nodded, numb, and dragged myself upright. She handed me a report, the words "late-stage cancer" screaming off the page. Hobbling out of the room, I passed Lena's door and froze at the sound of her voice, syrupy sweet.
"Mom, Dad, I'm fine. Elliot and Ryan are taking good care of me." A pause, then fake concern. "Oh, by the way, I heard Evelyn fell in the water too. Aren't you… gonna ask about her?"
My parents' voices came through, cold as stone. "She brought it on herself. We only care about you."
Standing outside, my heart felt like it was being crushed b
