What would you do if you saw your dad with some girl in his office? You're six years old and you were supposed to stay with Angie, the assistant who looks a lot like your grandmother. But you don't really like staying with Angie because she's always smoking and it makes you cough. So you tell her you want to play hide and seek. She goes along with it, she's thinking maybe you'll just hide until your dad comes back for you and she wouldn't have to babysit. You're thinking you could sneak into your dad's office and maybe play with him. But then you open the door and you see him kissing someone. She looks kind of familiar, but it's hard to tell when all you can see is her hair and bare back. All of a sudden, you feel uncomfortable. You feel something unpleasant. So you close the door and go back to Angie's cubicle. You start wishing you didn't go there. Angie asks you why you came out of hiding. You keep quiet.
What would you do if you saw your mom lying on the bathroom floor? You're eight years old and she's covering up her wrist. She looks at you. You see there's a pool of blood beside her. You see she's crying. You start crying. You don't know why. But you feel like crying. She tries to talk to you. But she finds it hard. She manages to tell you not to go away. She asks you to stay with her. So you sit beside her. You're still crying, though. She's still bleeding. You tell her she needs help. You say you'll call for help. She tells you not to worry, because it will all be over soon. And you believe her. So you just stay with her. And you stay quiet.
What would you do if you saw your big sister sneaking out? You're ten years old. She's sixteen. It's the middle of the night. You got thirsty. You just wanted a glass of water. But then you see your sister in the hallway. She's carrying a bag, the one she used to bring whenever the whole family went camping. For a few seconds, the two of you just stand there, looking at each other. You want to ask her where she's going. But in the back of your mind, you kind of have a hunch. Your family's falling apart. You want to say something to convince her to just go back to her room. But before you could say anything, she went and headed down the stairs. You watch as she opens the front door and disappears behind it. You keep quiet.
What would you do if your friends told you to smoke? You're twelve years old. You're at a friend's house. There's five of you, sitting in a circle on your friend's bedroom floor. Your friend goes out of the room and comes back with a pack of cigarettes. He says his mom keeps dozens of it in her drawer. Your mind instantly goes back to those days you spent with Angie. You don't want to smoke. Your friends light one up. They take turns on it. It doesn't take long before it's your turn. You say you don't want to. They tell you that you have to. You take the cigarette and get it over with. Then you stay quiet.
What would you do if the doctor tells you that you have lung cancer? You're fourteen years old. The doctor says it's stage three. Changes you've been feeling start to make sense. Your dad asks about treatment options. Your dad and the doctor talk for a long time. You're thinking about what your mother said to you. A small smile grows on your face, because it will all be over soon. Your dad talks to you in private. He asks the doctor to leave. He tells you that you'll be okay. He tells you that he won't quit. He enumerates the options, as if you weren't there when the doctor said them earlier. He looks you in the eyes as he waits for your answer. For the first time in a long time, you don't stay quiet. You tell him the only good news you've had in eight years. “It will all be over soon.”
