20

PHOENIX

My mind goes back to the lunch I spent with my family. I can’t help but think about how Samantha’s dad died. What if? My stomach twists, and the longer I think about it, the more I feel I want to throw up.

“Penny for the thoughts?”

I look at her who’s lying in my arms after our wall-banging. I break into a grin. “Just thinking about the wall that almost collapsed. It actually shook.” She giggles. “And that’s what you’re thinking all this time?”

I push the thought back into my head. “What else would I think about, princess?”

I really don’t want to lie to her about what is bothering me because I hate being lied to, as well, but that night accident keeps flashing back to me. I still remember the face of that man when the EMT tried to take him out of the wrecked car.

“I don’t wanna go back home yet, but I have classes and I have to attend them to graduate,” she says while tracing her fingers on my ch