Uncovered Secrets

Taking Chances

It's been a week since Kevin and I had our little "talk" in the food court. We get together everyday and just talk. Today I'm going over to his house, and I'm staying the night. I told Anna what was going on- well part of it. I told her that he was helping me heal from the bullying. Anna agreed to help me cover up where I would be tonight, because my mother would never let me stay overnight at a boy's house. Especially if that boy's parents were out of town. I'm waiting for Anna to pick me up and bring me to Kevin's when my mom comes in the room.

"Hey Dem." she says. I smile, my stomach turns anxiously... If my mom found out where I would be tonight... "So I just got a call from St. Jude's Hospital in Tampa Bay. Grandma fell and broke her hip. I've gotta go down there tonight. I'm sorry... But you're going to that thing tonight with Anna anyways right?" I nod.

"Grandma's going to be okay, right?" I ask, a nervous waver in my voice.

"Oh yeah, yeah of course. She just needs someone right now." Mom smiles at me, then looks out the window. "Anna's here." She says. I get up and hug her.

"Have a safe flight, Mom." I whisper.

***

Kevin's house is adorable. It's not small but it's not huge either. When you walk into the entryway, you can go right to the kitchen or left upstairs. He leads me into the kitchen and turns down a hallway that leads to a door. We pass an office and a bathroom. He opens the door and I see carpeted stairs that lead down to a basement. Once we're down there, we sit on the couch. He picks up a bowl of popcorn, a bowl of Sour Patch Kids, and a bowl of Cheez-Its. Then he pulls out two game controllers.

"Tonight, we're gonna live the life of people who don't care." He says. I laugh and slowly grab the bowl of popcorn from him.

"Kevin?" He looks at me. "Tell me something nobody knows about you." I say quietly, staring into the bowl of popcorn.

"I don't know. I don't have any big secrets." He shrugs and I let it go. After about an hour of him kicking my ass at some video game, he goes upstairs to the bathroom. I look around for my phone, which must have slipped from my sweatshirt pocket. I start to panic when I can't find it, and frantically look in between the couch cushions. I pull out a jolly rancher, a few dimes and piece of paper, but no phone. I get down and look on the floor, and relax when my fingers fold around my iPhone. I'm about to throw away the other things I found when I see the writing on the piece of paper. I look at it closer and see this it's a whole piece of paper, folded up into a square.

Dianna McHale

I unfold the note;

Di,

I'm sorry I haven't written in a while. I've been pretty busy. I met a girl, her names Demi. She doesn't eat. Just like you... I wasn't there for you. But I promise you I'll be there for her. She's amazing... She's beautiful. I wish she saw it. I wish you saw how beautiful you were. Dr. Mason says that I shouldn't blame myself; but how can I not? You were my little sister and I didn't notice that you stopped eating. I didn't notice that kids were mean to you, that you cried yourself to sleep every night. Mom and Dad still can't go into your room. I do sometimes. When they're not home, I go in and I lay on your bed. I close my eyes and remember. Usually I think about the time when we went to Canada and Mom forgot you at that gas station. I remember how terrified she was that you wouldn't be there when she got back. Then I think of how she is now. And how she's broken and it's all my fault. I really miss you, Dianna. I just really miss you. I want to tell Demi. I want her to know she's not alone... But I can't. I will do it someday. For you. I hope you're happy, wherever you are now. I hope that you don't feel any pain. I love and miss you.

Kevin.

"Hey." Kevin says coming down the stairs. I turn around, not bothering to wipe away my tears. "What's wrong?" He asks. I hand him the note and he pales.

"Is Dianna your sister?" I ask. He sits slowly and nods.

"Yeah. Well, she was. She died." I sit down and wrap my arms around him.

"Why do you write to her?" I ask curiously.

"Some people pray, some people just talk. I write to her. We both liked to write so I feel connected to her when I write it down. I have to see a grief counselor... But I only feel better after writing to her." I nod, and we're both quiet for a few minutes.

"How did she die?" I ask quietly.

"My parents... Were out of town for a vacation. I was supposed to stay home and hang out with her. But my girlfriend at the time, Tina, wanted to see a movie. So I asked Dianna if it was okay and she said yes. She was showering when I got home and I fell asleep. It was like nine thirty. I woke up around three and the shower was still going. I ran down here and unlocked the door and she was just lying there on the floor." He pointed to a door that I hadn't noticed. I noticed a little hallway by the door that I guessed led to her room. "I called an ambulance, but she wasn't breathing. She had been dead for an hour. I guess... Her body... Went into shock because she wasn't eating. And then her heart stopped beating." Kevin was balling, and I was doing my best to calm him down.

"It wasn't your fault." He laughs coldly.

"If I would have hung out with her like she had asked me to, she would be alive." I didn't know what to say.

"Kevin. Kevin look at me." I say turning his head so he can see me. "It's not your fault. Dianna... Trust me, she knew the risk she was taking by not eating." He nodded.

"I don't want to lose you, too." He says. I hold him tighter.

"You won't."