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“My family wouldn’t—”
“They did.Hedid.”
“He who? Who are you talking about?” My heart flutters in my chest, so powerless it feels like it might be giving out. “Not Blake. He wouldn’t. He loves me.”
“Not Blake,” he confirms, his deep voice bitter.
“Then who?”
He rolls his fist into one hand, looking away from me. “Your father, Mae. Your father is the reason you’re here.”
The ground shifts underneath me, the air sucked from my lungs as if I’m in a wind tunnel. “No…” I whisper breathlessly. “Is this a joke? A prank? Don’t be cruel. My father would never—”
“He would,” he says simply, leaving no room for argument. “He has. He did.”
“How can you know that?”
“Because he did the same thing to me.”
I swallow, still not understanding. “What are you talking about?”
The man’s face softens, and I catch something familiar in his eyes. When he speaks again, I somehow know what he’s going to say just before he says it. Even though it’s impossible. Even though it can’t be true.
“It’s…” He looks as nervous as I feel. “It’s me, Mae. It’s me. Danny.”
I blink at him, my heart pounding so loudly in my head I can’t hear my own thoughts. What a cruel prank this is. How does he know about Danny? How could he possibly…
“Danny is dead.” My voice is cold. Empty. It hurts as much today to say those words as it ever has.
“No.” He steps forward. “I’m very much alive.”
“You’re not Danny.”
Lowering down in front of me, he reaches for my arm. He turns it over, baring the pale underside of my forearm, and traces a finger across it gently. Finally, he stops, tapping one spot in particular. When my eyes fall to the white scar near my wrist, a memory floods my mind.
“Do you know what happened here?” he asks gently. “Has anyone ever told you?”
I nod without volition. “Yes, I—”
His smile is soft. “Let me tell you what I remember. It was the Fourth of July. Mom and Dad picked out sparklers for us. I was trying to show you how you could draw things in the air with them, but you were so excited, you kept trying to do it and you dropped yours right on your arm.” His eyes go dull. “They blamed me for distracting you.”
I cover my lips with my free hand as he turns my arm back over, placing it on my lap. “But…how? I don’t understand. You… You died. I was there. I was there when you died, Danny. I watched you drown.”
He laughs dryly. “Is that what he convinced you?”
“Convinced me?I remember! There was a boating accident. Some dumb teenagers were drunk. They ran into us and you fell out of the boat. I saw it happen! You slipped out of your life jacket before Dad could get to you, and they sped off. I remember everything about that day!”
“You don’t. You were two years old, Mae. Whatever memory you have of that day is one they’ve convinced you is real. I assure you, I am Danny. I am your brother and I’m very much alive.”
“I don’t understand…”
“I know. I’m going to explain everything to you, but I need to know if you believe me.”
Cool tears sting my eyes. “I… I remembered you. When I heard your voice… It’s impossible, it would’ve changed, but there’s something about it.”
He touches my thigh gently. “I never forgot you.”
“But how?” I clear my throat, brushing away my tears. “Were you kidnapped? Why would Dad lie to me?”
