“Colin?”
“It was right here.”
“Here? What was…”
“She said I didn’t have to go in that day.”
“Colin…what…?”
Colin took in a deep, shaky breath and shook his head before letting out one humorless laugh.
“It was Thanksgiving, and I started getting sick a few days before. I was nine. Had trouble breathing, started throwing up. Jaundice. Wasn’t good. Doctors said to bring me in.” Colin closed his eyes and scrunched up his lips. “I didn’t wanna go. I was usually real good about it. So brave, that’s what all the nurses always said, ‘oh look at this brave boy.’ But not that day. I threw a fit. A real f*****g fit. Threw myself to the ground.”
He pointed to the spot where they stood. “Right here and just wailed and kicked and punched.” He wiped at his face. “I think I may have even hit her, b
