CHAPTER TEN: LEO

Today marks the fifth anniversary of my parents' deaths. On this day five years ago, our parents died, and Shane lost his ability to speak. Even after five years, the image of Shane hooked up to machines haunts my dreams. Every year on this day, I was in a bad mood, so I rarely did anything except visit their grave. I went over to Shane's room to see if he was awake.

I found him sitting on his bed with his hands over his face, and when he looked up to acknowledge me, I noticed he was crying.

I rushed over to him. "Are you all right, Shane?" I asked, sitting on the edge of the bed beside him and pulling him into a hug. I rubbed my hand down his back, trying to comfort him, but he continued to cry for thirty minutes before stopping.

"Hey buddy, can you tell me what's going on? You're making me worried," I asked quietly, but he looked away as if trying to avoid my question. "I need to know what's going on, Shane. Please tell me," I insisted.

"Why didn't I just die with them that day, Leo