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Never. Like. This.
For the second time in the last two years, I knew my life would never be the same. When he spoke the truth, announcing to everyone, “She’s gone… My Bailey… left me. Forever.”
Meaning every last word.
Except it wasn’t my father’s face that would haunt me this time.
It was hers…
Harley’s.
The girl, I hated, the most.
11
HARLEY
My belly hurt the rest of the day, and not in an ‘I ate somethin’ bad kind of way. I would never forget the expression on Jackson’s face when he saw his dad stumblin’ around. Then again when he said Aunt Bailey was gone forever.
It was like a bullet pierced his heart and his dad was the one who pulled the trigger. It was the worst feelin’ ever. I hated Jackson with every part of me, but in that moment, I felt somethin’ for him I never had before.
Sadness.
I didn’t understand what was goin’ on. The adults made all the kids stay outside while they handled Uncle Aiden inside behind closed doors. Jackson didn’t say another word to any of us, not even to his brother who looked like he felt.
Like all of us felt.
Awful and afraid.
I had so many questions with no answers.
My parents didn’t speak a word on the way home. Although, at one point, my daddy reached over and grabbed my momma’s hand. He kissed it before placin’ it in his lap for the rest of the drive home. As if he needed to hold her any way he could.
I knew one thing for sure, whatever was happenin’ in Jackson’s family was really bad. Not in an everythin’ would eventually be okay way.
“Momma, what’s happenin’ with Aunt Bailey?” I asked while she was cleanin’ up my room as I got ready for bed.
The fact she was cleanin’ my room this late only proved my point that this really was bad. Momma only cleaned this heavily when she needed a distraction.
She sighed, noddin’ for me to get into bed. I did as I was told as fast as I could, wantin’ to hear what she had to say. Momma swiftly sat beside me, pullin’ my wet hair away from my face to look into my eyes.
“Baby, I don’t think you’ll understand. I barely understand it.”
“But you’re a grown up and adults know everythin’.”
“Sweetheart, there are times in life where even adults don’t understand things.”
“You’re scarin’ me.”
“Don’t be scared. What I can tell you is the Pierces are a part of our family, and we’ll be there for them every step of the way.”
I narrowed my eyes at her, confused. “Is Aunt Bailey sick?”
She nodded. “Yeah, Harley. She’s very sick.”
“But Uncle Aiden is a doctor, so he can find a way to make her better, right?”
Her eyes watered. “You need to go to bed, baby. You have school in the morning.”
