Page 55 of Cora

“That’s what this is about?” Trent asked. “Isaac, what happened to Mom and Melly wasn’t your fault. You can’t keep hauling that around on your shoulders. There wasn’t anything you could have done to prevent their deaths.” Trent shifted Cora to stand between me and Remi and went to his brother. He grabbed the back of his neck and pressed their foreheads together. “It wasn’t your fault,” Trent said, his voice cracking.

“If we had left earlier, Melly wouldn’t have gotten sick,” Isaac choked out.

Cora clung to Remi and me, and I felt her lean forward, fighting the urge to go to them. Remi and I held her steady. Isaac and Trent needed this moment together.

“Bullshit,” Trent said. “Look around us. You know how this world works now. While I’d like to think that we would have been able to keep them safe this long, you and I both know that the chances of that are slim. How many close calls have we had? Could you imagine going through half the things we’ve gone through with Mom and Melly at our sides? Maybe their fate was as it should have been. Whatever the reason, none of it was your fault!”

They hugged and cried together, mourning the loss of their family.

The next time Cora tried to join them, she held my and Remi’s hands tightly and pulled us with her. We folded them into our embrace, sharing the burden of their grief. “This world is harsh,” Cora said.

I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to hearing her, but I know I’ll never take it for granted.

“Our family’s safety isn’t only on your shoulders, Isaac,” Cora continued. “We’re in this together. We’re a team and share the burdens of survival equally.”

“Damn straight we do,” I agreed. “We need you around for a long time, bro, not in an early grave because you worried yourself to death.”

“Does anyone else feel like bursting into song?” Remi asked. “Specifically,High School Musical?We’re allll in thiss together...“ he started to sing.

“NO!” all of us, including Cora, yelled.

“No need to be rude,” Remi huffed.

I shook my head. This was my family. One minute, we were crying, and the next, we sang old-ass Disney movie songs. The group hug lasted a little longer, then it began to break up. Remi and Trent dragged Cora off to bed. The day’s excitement had caught up to her, and she looked like a feather could knock her over. Isaac settled into the chair in the living room. We were back to taking turns standing guard every night, and it was his turn, but after the evening’s events, he belonged in the bed with Cora.

“I’ll stand guard tonight, go to bed,” I ordered.

“What? No, I’m fine. That isn’t fair to you,” Isaac replied.

“Isaac, I’m telling you to go to bed. This is my idea, and I’m the one who determines whether it is fair. I’m not the one who just pissed our mute girl off so much she started talking. Go cuddle with her and make up for your asshattery. I’ve got the watch tonight.”

“You’re sure?”

“If I have to tell you a third time, I’m going to punch you,” I threatened.

“Ok, ok,” Isaac laughed. He stood, and as he passed me, he paused. “Thank you,” he said solemnly.

“Don’t mention it,” I said, clapping him on the back. I waited until I heard the bedroom door close, then turned off all the lights in the house and sat in front of the window, watching the night. I thought back to Isaac talking about feeling responsible for his mom and sister’s deaths. I had no family to be responsible for until now unless you count my kids.

Three Years Ago

“Times up!” I yelled after blowing my whistle. “Put all the balls in the basket and stack the scooters by the wall.”

“Awe, man. Come on, Coach,” Kenny complained. “Why can’t we spend all day in gym class?”

“Because there is more to life than scooter ball, Kenny,” I chuckled.

The disappointed kid followed his classmates out of the gym to his next class. I had been nervous after graduating college to start working, but teaching phys ed at the elementary school was a breeze and always entertaining. I enjoyed the kids and their zest for life. They reminded me that no matter how bad things seemed, those times were fleeting, and there was far more joy in the world if you were willing to see it.

“You’re so good with them.” Speaking of seeing the joy the world has to offer. I turn to see Alice leaning against the folded bleachers.

“Aren’t you on first lunch duty this week?” I asked the raven-haired beauty as she pushed off the bleachers and sauntered toward me, her swinging hips effortlessly hypnotizing me.

“I swapped with Karen so that I could come see you. I’ve missed you, baby.” She trailed a finger down my chest and hooked it into the waistband of my basketball shorts. “How come you haven’t called me?”

I shook my head to clear it of the spell she always seemed to put me under. “We’ve talked bout this, Ali,” I said, putting some distance between us. “We can’t see each other anymore.”

“But, why—“ she started to whine when screams reached us.

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