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Even so, my words come out painfully and reluctantly “My adoptive mother died in a car crash I was in the car I survived, but I have noabout ht I did it They said I had always made trouble Always acted out”

India nods “Me too,” she says

“They said it was my fault They said I killed her”

India looks stricken “What did they do?”

“I had to go and live with her sister, my adoptive aunt, and she hated me She said I did it too And I could never defend myself Not really Because I couldn’t remember I know I can’t have done it I know it But how can I know that really if I don’t remember?” My voice trails off

“And your htened tone She is looking at ht say otherwise

I shake my head “They never came back”

“So you have to live with never knowing,” she says dully

“That doesn’t have to happen to you Not if you try your best to remember”

I don’t know if I want this so badly for her or for me Because if she can do it, maybe it is not too late for me

When she speaks it sounds like she is in pain “I heard that Detective Zael guy shouting in the hallway He said they found me with a knife in my hand He said Rachel’s blood was all over me”

I nod, unable to deny it She needs the truth Not cover ups

“What if it was uish “What if I did do it? What if I killed Rachel?”

I hold her hand and squeeze it “You loved Rachel You wanted her to be happy You can’t torment yourself like this”

“But I’m a olf I’oing to hurt someone And what if I’ve hurt Rachel? I can’t remember Why can’t I remember?”