Page 10 of Frozen Flames

Her stare tells me she can’t believe I even have to ask. I already know what my sister thinks of modern love, much less Shakespeare, but color me curious. Besides, I never know with her. She still manages to surprise me after seventeen years.

“I basically wrote how stupid I thought it was… Juliet should’ve married for money, could’ve saved herself the trouble.”

I shake my head before telling her, “One day, you’ll meet someone and understand all about it, girlie. Love is precious. It’sworthit.”

“Hmm, considering Dad cheated on Mom repeatedly then left her to be there for his other family, I’d say that’s ahard pass.”

I sigh, and once we’re parked, she kisses my cheek before grabbing her backpack and getting out of the car.

We have a good life—my mom, Audrey, and me. Our circle is small yet joyful despite the ups and downs with Audrey’s health issues.

Meanwhile, my dad’s always been in and out of our lives and mostly just provides for us financially.

I wish my sister could see the beauty in life, in every situation. Mom and Dad could’ve stayed together, but my mom would’ve been miserable because of my dad’s behavior.

I want to tell Audrey sometimes that the way she views love, as nothing more than a financial transaction, is the same predicament my parents are in, and it bothers my sister—a lot.

But she’ll learn as she grows up and meets new people and hopefully gains a new perspective.

I hand Harvey his medication in his room. He shoves them onto his tongue one after the other with as much disdain as he can muster before downing them with water.

It feels inappropriate being here, in his room, but the guy practically lives here!

I’m about to tell him that he should open the blinds in his room to let in sunlight, but I simply do it instead.

It’s too dark. This can’t be good for anyone’s mood.

When I’m finished, though he doesn’t turn to look at me, too busy killing soldiers on his flat-screen TV, he says, “Happy now?”

“Mm-hmm, yes actually.” I smile, despite the sarcasm in his tone.

I am happy though; the sun makes me happy. A lot of things do, I guess. Because why not? We never know when we’re going to leave this world. We might as well make every second count.

Good or bad.

If it’s good, then that’s great, and if it’s bad, then you know that good times are around the corner.

Perhaps I get it from my mama, her free-spirited joie de vivre.

Audrey ended up with my dad’s negative viewpoint. I won’t lie, I feel bad for them sometimes. It must be tiring.

That’s when I notice the mess on Harvey’s lowered desk in the corner of his room. Piles and piles of glasses and some bowls all over.

The mess, the darkness, his somber mood—if depression had a name, his would be it.

My fingers are itching over his desk because I could do it, clean his space, even though it’s not my place to do so.

“Don’t.” His voice is stern, leaving no room for debate.

I blush, knowing I’ve been caught. I pocket my hands inside my scrubs, wishing to ease the awkward tension.

“You know what they say…a cluttered desk means a cluttered mind.”

He scoffs. “Trust me,Claire, a cleaner room won’t diminish my cluttered mind.”

He looks at me with an intense, fevered stare, his blue eyes warning me to leave him be and that he won’t abide changing, before he continues gaming.

“Come out in ten minutes for training.”

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