"Then do this for me," I say.
She stares back at me with a sad smile and shakes her head. "Life is for the living."
"And you want to get back to your work?" I offer.
"You know what it's like when work is everything. But that's not all it is." She turns to Dad. "I don't want to leave you, Cam, but I'm not spending the next six months waiting to die."
He squeezes her hand.
They share a look of understanding.
Then they both look to me with a nod.
The decision is made.
And I don't get a fucking say.
34
Mal
I'm ready to throw something.
To throw every fucking thing in existence.
I sulk out of the room.
Everyone is looking at me, waiting for me to explain it. Piper is resting her head on Kit's chest.
And Ethan is leaning against the wall opposite me.
And Lacey is staring at me like she knows I'm about to break.
Piper steps forward. "What happened, Mal?"
She'd rather die than be with us.
Maybe there's another way to look at it—that she's fighting to live. That she's fighting for the life she wants.
But there's no denying that she's choosing not to take the time we could have together.
I suck a breath between my teeth and I explain the best I can. Mom has a terminal heart condition. Her two options are medication and surgery. Medication means six months, a year, maybe a few years. Surgery is likely death but possible remission.
Piper's heartbreak is written all over her blue eyes. She turns to Kit and buries her head in his chest.
He slides his arms around her and pulls her close.
If they were a cartoon, there would be hearts surrounding them. They're so clear and honest about how much they love each other.
Mom and Dad too.
Ethan's like that with Violet. But she's MIA. No, she's not here because she doesn't do well with this stuff. Not after finding her brother's body after his suicide.
He looks empty without her here. He looks as numb as I feel.
And Lacey is staring at me with all this love in her eyes.
She moves close enough to wrap her arms around me.