Right now, Connor’s the only thing keeping
me alive.
“Riley, you and Luke are going to be so
happy,”
My sister, on her deathbed, pale and thin. She
was so weak, her face full of sorrow and
exhaustion, she still used her last bit of
strength to give me some advice.
“Riley, get my son out of here and stay away
from Harold.”
That boy was Connor.
L
Dr. Miller showed up fast and took a look at my leg.
“Doc, I’ve been having trouble sleeping. Could
you prescribe me something?”
I stopped him as he was leaving.
“Riley, I need Mr. Harrison’s permission.”
Dr. Miller paused but didn’t turn around. He
spoke carefully and left.
Disappointed, I got up, grabbed my crutches,
and slowly went downstairs.
“Riley, Connor asked me to make you some
soup, to help you heal. Come try it.”
Linda, Harold’s girlfriend, was coming out of
the kitchen with a bowl of soup. When she
saw me come downstairs, she smiled and
said “Riley come try it.‘
Linda, Harold’s bedmate and secretary.
Harold couldn’t have kept himself celibate for
seven years.
I looked at Connor sitting at the table,
avoiding my eyes, and my heart skipped a
beat.
Connor, since you were five, this is the first
time you’ve cared for me.
Sister, did you see that, our Conner has finally
grown up?
I slowly moved over, Linda, seeing I was in
L
pain, quickly came over and helped me.
Linda gave me a bowl of soup, watching
Conner staring at me, the expectant look in
his eyes, I smiled and drank it down.
“Riley, why didn’t I see the dog out back?”
The dog’s name was Tiger, a German
Shepard, Harold was the only one to allow me
to bring one thing into the house, he had no
idea it was the dog Luke got for me.
The only thing I had left to remember Luke.
Hearing Linda, my heart dropped, I had a bad
feeling, could it be Harold?
“Tiger, Tiger.”
<
I didn’t care about my leg, tripping and
yelling.
“Stop yelling.”
Connor looked at me, hidden with delight and
madness.
“Wasn’t your dog inside you just now, was it
delicious?”
Looking at Conner, I was scared, my sister,
Conner, becoming more and more like Harold.
Linda ran into the kitchen and started to
puke.
