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My mother and father had taken sothat HurtingMicah was another

"Micah deserved to know the Falcos He was robbed of that They were robbed of that for five years What did you do with the letters, Mother? Where did they go if they didn’t go to the Falcos? I wrote at least a hundred I sent photos For years I tried to reach thehed wearily and crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive posture Then she looked up at Dewayne "I didn’t want them to use you and your baby They had lost Dustin, and then they’d suffered the blow of that Bart girl aborting Dustin’s baby I didn’t want the world to know you were pregnant with his son too If they knew, then everyone else would know You’d not only be a teen mom, but you’d be one of Dustin Falco’s many I couldn’t let that happen to you You deserved , butit wasn’t sinking in It didn’tto understand why she thought Kimmy Bart had aborted Dustin’s baby

MyI didn’t understand as she looked at Dewayne "You didn’t tell her," , and ry at Dewayne

About Kinant too?" I asked, still trying to process this

Myclose to sorrow "I’ht by now you would have heard I didn’t know they’d kept that froh that you can handle the truth Dustin Falco wasn’t sleeping with just you Kinant with his baby too Except she was further along than you, and Dustin knew about it when he died Ki it fro inside et back

DEWAYNE

Sienna shut down right in front of ht ahead The one thing I never wanted her to know, her fking useless excuse for aor preparation I’d tried to stop her, but the horror of Sienna knowing robbed me of words I’d been frozen in this awful reality

"Baby, look atfor her, but she stepped back She didn’t look at me, and instead sheme open with a blade

"You were better than Dustin He eak--" her lared at her

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" I roared She’d said enough I never wanted to hear her speak again

"Don’t defend hi hi her Shut up! She didn’t need to hear it this way She never needed to fking know He’s gone That’s over She had her memories, and she was happy Don’t you see that? What is your proble her in pain?"

At least she had the decency to flinch

"Stop," Sienna said, drawing ht I should know That’s soo I don’t crumble I’ve proved that It makes sense, really He was always near her She was always around I trusted him I did But it makes sense"

There was only e hated it I preferred her tears Or even her screa down and shutting everyone else out I wasn’t leaving She wasn’t pushinghurt by the Falcos So I had your aunt check the mail daily and send me all the letters you sent them I have theh I want therow But the letters, you can take those to Tabby I have them in the car"

She’d taken the letters because she was punishing us forHow fked up was that? My parents lost their son Then they found out he had gotten Kinant, and she’d had an abortion the day after his funeral It had spread through town like wildfire A year later Kiuy and had never returned to Sea Breeze

Not having to see her had helped When I saw her face, all I saas the girl who’d killed ive her I didn’t even want to She disgusted o Leave the letters on the porch I’ive you, Mother, but today is not that day"

She didn’t look at either of us Her eyes were still unfocused as she stared off at nothing "Give o"

She was talking tohed, then finally turned to look at me "Did you know?"

I wanted to lie I wanted to lie so damn bad

"Yes" I admitted the truth because I refused to lie to her

"Then you need to go I want you to go"

"Sienna, I hadyou--"

"I don’t care I want you to go Leaveherself in her bedroo es andWhy I did it

"She needs ti stupid You never were as stupid as your brother You were the smart one Don’t let her down, like we did" Then Nina Roy turned and walked away