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"He went to France"

"I heard"

"She turned hiry "I’ll have to call her"

"You sure you want to do that?"

"No, not really" I lay back and rubbed et a headache "But I need to knohat she said to him"

"You should tell hiood place now I don’t want to disturb that"

"Noah, I know you think you’re protecting hiht to know And honestly, I don’t think he’s going to just let it go He has a right to know the truth about his past"

"I’ll tell hi" I cleared my throat "Anyways, how have you been? I heard Lucky has been working on the docuood Better since Lucky and Zane been coood girl" Sidney sighed "I like her a lot, she’s good for your brother She really loves hiot anyone?"

"No" Not anymore

"What about where you were hidden out?"

"I dated Nothing too serious" Liar

"You’re still young Plenty of fish in the sea"

"Yeah I’irl you ot there?" Sidney talked slowly "The one I told you to be careful with"

"You were right to warn ot complicated Her life was complicated"

"Were you one of the complications?"

"I became one of them" I stared at the wall as I spoke "My presence ended up hurting so bad, I hope"

"I hope not" I loweredto ask you later, but I need you to speak to your son for me The family attorney I have some questions"

"You in trouble?"

"No" I shookain, Noah? You should be happy, you just got back"

"I’ isn’t the same as it was before, Sidney My life didn’t stop when I went away Life continued for you and for uess there are troubles to be left and to be found"

"Where did you go?"

"I can’t say"

"You mean you won’t say"

"Yeah" There was no need to lie to Sidney; he knew the deal "I’ll talk about it later I don’t want to think about it now"

"Lucky got soood ideas for the documentary She’s a history buff like you She knows a lot about civil rights" Sidney changed the subject and I smiled to myself He always kne to read et your life back on track" Sidney paused again "I’lad you’re back, you know"

"I know" I couldn’t stop h I knew he couldn’t seeup and looked up slowly to see Lucky staring at me from the doorith a half-smile

"Hey, I just wanted to let you know that breakfast was ready"

"Thanks" I nodded and remained seated and she walked into the room uncertainly

"Do you have someone that you left behind?" She chewed on her bottom lip and stared into my eyes earnestly "Asides froirlfriend behind? We just assu, because you know, you were devastated by her du you" She made a face "Thank God that wasn’t true But was there so and she looked into htly hesitantly I could tell that she felt like she was prying a little bit and wasn’t sure if she was stepping over the line

"I wasn’t seeing anyone seriously when I left" I shrugged "But you’re right, Angelique wasn’t the love of my life by any means"

"I wonder why she believed that you were so in love with her that you would take your life" Lucky frowned "Icould have been ruined"

"Angelique would believe she was an angel frohed "She wasn’t low in self-confidence"

"I guess that’s true" Lucky sat down next to me "Are you okay, Noah? I know that Zane has been a little distant, and we haven’t really asked you how you’re doing We’ve been so happy to see you alive that we haven’t really thought about anything else But I assume you’ve had a life the last year or so, away from here It must have been hard to start over and then have to leave"

"It wasn’t hard" I jurowled "Zane has always been the first person in hts, and it was neverI couldn’t stay there when I knew that Zane was out here with a hole in his heart"

"You’re the first person in his life, too" Lucky walked with ht in his eye that returned when you came back from the dead"

"Not anymore" I spoke rabbed ahold of her hands and stopped her at the top of the stairs "My brother loves you, and I’m not sad that you are his main concern now That’s how it should be That’s how true love should be I’m still his brother and he will always love me, but you’re the one he lives for" The words were passionate on ured it all out before me Oh, the irony of the situation was fantastic It hurt just like a knife had been stabbed into my heart and twisted, and I stood still for a rief and loss that sat in rabbedto have to talk Maybe not today andto talk toyou can do is keep your worries to yourself"