Page 79 of Dead to Me

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Milan.”

“You finally said it.”

I pushed her. China fell onto the bed, her wedding gown twisting underneath her. I reached into the hidden pocket of my maid-of-honor dress. When China saw the knife, her expression changed.

“Milan.”

I opened the blade. She scrambled back across the bed.

“No.”

I walked toward her.

“Milan, listen to me.”

“I listened.”

“We’re sisters.”

“I know.”

“I’m all you have.”

That made me pause. China noticed and moved off the other side of the bed.

“Mama is gone. Daddy is gone. Malcolm is gone.”

“Whose fault is Malcolm?”

She flinched.

“You and me are all that’s left.”

I stared at her. Six years ago, those words could have saved her. Maybe even yesterday. But not now.

“You should’ve remembered that when I was all you had.”

China cried.

“I made a mistake.”

“You made a choice.”

“I can fix it.”

“How?”

“I will tell them everything.”

I laughed.

“I will.”

“Malcolm is dead.”