That’s when Mom snatched the note from his
pocket.
She eagerly unfolded the piece of paper.
Then, her face froze.
I watched Mom’s expression change, her eyes
wide with terror.
I asked, desperate, “Mom, what does it say?”
She just stood there, her mouth hanging
open.
I took a step forward, trying to grab the note.
That’s when Mom did something that shocked
me even more.
Tears streaming down her face, she looked at me, her eyes empty and lost.
Then, she crumpled up the note and shoved it
in her mouth.
I panicked and tried to pull her arm.
“Mom, what are you doing? Spit it out!”
“Don’t swallow it!”
But Mom swallowed the note.
She turned to me, tears welling up in her
eyes. “Honey, you can never know what it
says.”
I stood there, numb, not understanding the
power in those few words.
Why was everyone acting so strangely?
Grandma had killed herself after reading the
note!
Just then, Dad sat up in bed, his eyes fixed
on us.
He sighed, a look of sad resignation on his
face, then began to laugh.
He looked at Mom, his eyes haunted.
“Sarah, now you’re trapped in hell with me.”
I was a mess, not understanding how
everything had fallen apart so quickly.
L
Just a month ago, I thought my life was
perfect.
During the summer, Lily and I spent all day at
home, watching TV, playing games, or reading
comic books together.
Mom and Dad were in love and loved us.
They had been married for twenty years
without a major fight, giving Lily and me all
their attention.
Grandma never showed any favoritism.
She was a sweet, kind old woman who
secretly bought us candy and gave us
allowance.
When Mom and Dad were at work, Grandma
<
COOKEA Tor us.
Just last night, she had said she was going to
make us barbecue ribs.
But in a few short days, everything changed.
Lily was dead and Grandma killed herself.
Dad drank all the time and Mom acted
strange.
The world was spinning, crashing down
around me.
Through it all, I couldn’t stop wondering what
Lily’s message said.
The next day, the police showed up again.
<
Mom and Dad were both gone, so I was the
only one who could talk to them.
The police asked, “Did your sister say
anything recently that would hint at suicide?
Bad test grade, fight with her parents, or… a
breakup?”
