Page 250 of Time Stops With You

Josiah meets my eyes, and I notice that he’s on the verge of tears too. “You’re not going to leave too, are you?”

“Me? No, no. I don’t like space. I’d rather stay on earth.” The lie makes my lips tremble.

“I know Cullen didn’t go to space,” Josiah says. His voice is a mere whisper so it takes me a second to realize what I’ve heard.

“What?”

“I’m eleven. I’m not stupid.” He sniffs angrily. “Mars is still millions of years away from being habitable for humans. We don’t have the technology to recycle air or water.”

I guess there’s no hiding from a genius like Josiah.

“Cullen lied to me,” Josiah says.

“It wasn’t Cullen’s intention to lie,” I explain to my brother. “I think… he just didn’t want you to be hurt.”

“I know.”

“That was nice of you to pretend for his sake.”

Josiah comes to stand directly in front of me. “Nardi, I won’t pretend for you.”

Shocked, I stare at my brother. “What do you mean?”

“I heard you crying in the bathroom the other night.”

My lashes flutter. I thought that the shower could muffle my sobs.

“You keep vomiting too.”

I glance away. “Only a few times.”

“I looked it up. Sometimes, if you force yourself to eat, the food won’t stay down.”

“It’s nothing you have to worry about.”

Josiah lifts his chin. “Cullen asked me to take care of you. He said even if you told everyone you were fine, that I would know if you really are or not because I’m the closest to you.”

His words snatch away my voice. I grip the underside of the table to steady my emotions.

“Dying slowly is still dying. That’s what Cullen said.” Josiah sticks out his pinkie, “Promise me that you won’t die like Romeo did for Juliet.”

“I won’t. I promise.” I link my pinkie with Josiah’s.

My little brother pats my shoulder. “Would it make you feel better if I told you I missed him too?”

My heart stutters as I nod. “Yeah, it really would.”

“Cullen was my hero and my friend.” Josiah smiles sadly. “I really want to make him proud.”

“You will, Jos. I know it.” I force a watery smile. “Hey, did you send him your video?”

“I did.”

“Did he… respond to you?”

Josiah shakes his head ‘no’.

My shoulders sag.

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