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Still, her eyes don't lift, but her foot continues to rock the stroller

"Luce!" Liaain

Nothing

My eyes narrow before looking down at the boys "Is your sister uh hearing impaired?"

They both let out si his cap further down his head and looking up at "

She shows up to every game for the next six weeks Every week she looks sadder, like the life is slowly being sucked out of her

And you kno I know all this? Because while she's so pre-occupied reading I' her

-LUCY-

Lachlan cried the entire walk home, which meant that I had to carry him with one hand and push the stroller with the other, all while trying to make sure that Lincoln and Liam didn't run out onto the road Which would be fine, but I accidentally packed red Kool-Aid instead of their sports drinks so they went a little crazy I'll ree

Lachlan's still crying when Dad comes downstairs and walks into the kitchen He offers to take him from my hands but I can see in his eyes how tired he is I tell him that I'm fine, and motion for him to take a seat

He hasn't been out of their bedroo worse The doctors said that it was norot better I wonder for a s they use to try to justify one's health

A bitter laugh tries to escape but I keep it dohile I watch Dad take a seat at the dining table, his hands already covering his face before he's fully seated

The microwave beeps and I pull out Lachlan's bottle and feed it to him Silence fillsIn a house full of nine people, silence is rare My ht for a short ettin' worse, Luce" His deep voice has lost the fight to fake it "The doctor caood" He uncovers his face and looks up at me now, his eyes red rimmed from either lack of sleep or held back tears, but most likely both

"How long?" It's tords Tords that affect my entire life

"Three months"

Three months

I stop breathing

Lachlan cries and starts spurting his forhs

Dad stands and takes him from me

I walk out of the room, and to the bathroom

And I throw up

Three months

When I'm done, I run the tap and washthe edge of the sink, I suck in a huge breath and let it out I do it a few more times until color comes back into my face "Suck it up, Lucy," I whisper "You're fifteen Quit acting like a child"