Too Late

Age Nine

At age nine,
Hannah loved dance. She had dance practice Monday through Thursday. But when she wasn't at the dance studio, she was dancing in her room.
Kenni was picking Hannah up that cold, windy Tuesday. Kenni was sixteen and had her own car which gave her more freedom than she needed. When Hannah walked outside, Kenni was smoking a cigarette outside her car.
"Mom won't like you doing that." Hannah said, not meeting her sister's eyes.
Hannah may not love her sister, but at least she doesn't still hate her guts. Well, she probably still hates her, just doesn't despise her. That's how Kenni looked at it.
"Mom won't know if you keep your mouth shut." Kenni remarked, slamming the driver door.
"How'd you get them?" Hannah asked.
"None of your business." Kenni said. After many minutes of silence, Kenni pulled into their driveway.
Rebecca was away at a slumber party which meant Hannah wouldn't sleep tonight.
Hannah now couldn't sleep without Rebecca anymore. This meant Hannah would stay up all night and dance. She had ditched drawing once her mother freaked out at the strange dark figures.
Hannah Cohen wasn't like most dancers, every dance had a dark story, she was only at practice half the time she said she was, she missed her sister dearly.