KIRA Alana’s arrival was the best thing that could have happened to me in this entire ordeal. Now I had to fill her in on everything that was happening. And there was a lot. The ride home was a quiet one. From time to time, Alana was giving me her worried look. But I knew once I walked through the door I had to change this sad face. I didn’t want my mother to know the real reason for my condition. “I hope you can have another guest for Christmas dinner,” Alana said with a wide smile. My brother’s face suddenly brightened. “You know we will.” Mother said and gave her a warm hug. I looked over at my brother who was still looking at me with an odd look in his eye. The smile on his face was gone, replaced by a look of confusion. It was the look that told me he didn’t understand.

