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Prologue

Nea

Sixteen years old

You never think about your parents dying But then, one day, you turn around and notice that the person who you believed would always be there is leaving you It happened to me before, when my father decided he didn’t wantShe gaveI was clothed, fed, and schooled

And I loved her for it

But as she walks into the rooer see that Wonder Woman who’s taken care of me all my life My heart aches because she’s become a shell of my mom; the dark circles under her eyes, the sallow hue of her skin, and the frail lione

“You should go to school, Nea,” she tells me, but I shake my head I’ve always been stubborn, and norive eher side

“What would happen if I left, and you weren’t here when I got back?” I challenge her, and she can’t dispute me Even as the words leaveMy er, and she said it feels like you’re physically breaking

“I’ll be right here You don’t have to worry, sweetheart,” she tells me with a sad smile, and I know it’s not the truth I have to worry because , and no ain She’s not co home; I heard the doctor tell the nurse

“I just want to be here Can I please be here?”

Silently, she nods, settling back on the bed, and for sooodbye to me My mother takes my hand and kisses it before she sets it back Her eyes are watery, and I feeltoo I don’t want her to see how much this hurts

“I love you, Neacakes,” she tells me in a breathy voice She used to call me that because I had an epic love of cupcakes, buton top with the letter N And they became Neacakes