A Melody of You: Book Five

Leanne

"Truth or dare. Do you care?" I roll my eyes at Grace as she scoffs at my music. "What is this?"

"Should I put Milkshake then?"

"No!"

I laugh and look back at the road. Grace continues to tell me about how her mother-in-law has come into town and is taking care of her kids right now. But my mind drifts off to my mother again.

I shouldn't have said all of that. I lost a patient that day. I was feeling down. I didn't see Cristina all day and Yujun was in Korea for a week again. I missed him...

Why did I say all those things? I don't know what got into me. I am usually good at moving on. I'm good at forcing myself to be strong and brave. I can be determined. I can be the sister who takes the bullets for her family. I can be the one to put on a warm smile and pretend to be at peace.

I'm fine...I convince myself this every day until my heart bursts. Until I spill my hidden emotions on accident and to the last person I wish could have heard all those things. My parents...In their eyes, I am an example for my sisters. They are meant to see pride and success. I am meant to measure up.

Just great. Now they must think I'm going crazy. I will have to see their pity. My mother will only frown at me. I should have stayed silent like always...

I let out a soft sigh and Grace noticed my thoughtful expression. She gives me a sweet smile and says, "Thank you so much for driving. I'll pay for your gas on our way back."

"No. It's okay. It's my pleasure."

"No no. It's only fair." I do a small scoff at those words. She notices my silence and carefully says, "Long week?"

"A little."

"Work?"

"Life."

"Ah. It's one of those weeks...Do you want to talk about it?"

"I don't know," I say. "Maybe not today. I'm mentally getting ready for this dinner."

She laughs. "Why?! It's our friends."

"I think my social battery is low right now."

"Understandable. You see sick people every day. All I do every day is stay home with three tiny humans."

I chuckle and say, "They're so cute. The baby is so big now! How do they grow up so fast?"

"I know right?! That's why I decided to stay home since my husband has such a good job. I prefer to stay home honestly."

I give her a warm smile. "That was always your dream anyway."

She chuckles at the many memories of our late-night talks in our dorm coming to us. "You were always so certain it would happen to me, but you never cared for it to happen to you. But you were a romantic yourself. You were such a daydreamer that I almost thought you would change your major to English. Well, that was before him..."

I take a soft breath and nod. "Yes. I was so naive, wasn't I?"

"No. You were young. We couldn't have known any better. Now we still learn and take those past lessons to heart. You taught me that."

"I seem to be teaching so many things to people. All this advice for them, but I can't seem to do anything myself."

She turns to look at me with a hint of worry in her bright eyes. "Is everything okay at home, Leanne?"

Tears want to escape at the sound of her sweet concern but I do a fake smile that I know she will believe. "Yes! Don't worry about me. I've just had a long day at work. I recently lost a patient and things get hectic a lot."