All I can do now is apologize.
Meaghan rolled over and stared at Leah’s sleeping form. The moonlight cast an eerie light on the brunette, giving her a ghostly appearance. Leah had been forced to grow up so fast.
You’re mom said you’d be here,” Leah said.
Meaghan glanced back. “Go away.”
“Well, Shane dropped me off and he’s gone now…so it’s your responsibility to drop me back home.”
Under her breath, Meaghan cursed her brother. “Stupid Shane.”
Carefully, Leah sat down next to Meaghan. “What’d the doctors say?”
Meaghan couldn’t look at Leah, so she stared at the waves crashing against the rocks they were sitting on. A place the two of them had been so many times before. A place where they told each other all their secrets.
“Meg, tell me what he said.”
Meaghan shrugged. “Exactly what he said last time. Full sail ahead.”
Leah woke up the next morning to complete silence. There was no sound of Meaghan anywhere. Carefully, she sat up and swung her feet off the bed.
“Meg? Where are you?” Leah called out.
No answer. She tried again. Silence.
Had Meg left? Had she gone home? Leah’s breathing sped up and her chest tightened.
“Leah? What’s wrong?” Meaghan's voice was by her ear and her hands were rubbing Leah’s comfortingly. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I-I thought you left. I couldn’t hear you,” Leah cried.
“No, no, I was downstairs. I just needed water.”
Leah wiped away her tears and nodded. “I’m sorry…for being so paranoid.”
“There’s no such thing as caring too much.” Meaghan kept stroking Leah’s hair. “Why don’t we go out for breakfast today? Just you and me.”
“Okay.”
While Leah was in the shower, Meaghan laid out her clothes. So much had changed, Meaghan thought. Especially Leah.
“What do you mean you’re not going through with the surgery?” Shane asked angrily. “You don’t have a bloody option!”
Meaghan folded her arms tighter across her chest. “I’m nineteen years old. I can make my own decisions.”
“You’re my baby sister, Meg,” Shane whispered. “I only want what’s best for you.”
“I know, but—”
“Then why are you being so thick?”
She turned on her brother furiously. “I could die on the operating table.”
