Page 33 of We Own Tonight
“Well, she’s a huge comic book fan, and I promised to show her my latest collector editionSupermanI boughtyesterday.”
“Yes,” Steph interjects and touches his arm. “He got the one I was looking foronline.”
“Really?” I bury my skepticism deep. Stephanie has never touched a comicbook.
“Yes,Heather.” Her eyes narrow, and she purses her lips. “Anthony is going to let me see ittomorrow.”
Oh, I getit.
“I’ll let you visit with your sister, Stephy, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Anthony squeezes her hand and moves toward me. “It was great to meet you. She talks about you alot.”
“It was nice to meet you also,” I reply as he walksaway.
As soon as he’s down the hall, I rush over to her side, and we both laugh. “Comic books? Stephy? You hate that nickname! You are insodeep if you’re already being alldorky.”
“Shut up!” She slaps my arm. “I’m not dorky. I’m doing whatnormalgirls do when they like a guy. He’s cute. He kept coming to check my vitals way more than necessary, and I don’t know...I wanted someone to talkto.”
“I think it’s great,” I say to assure her. “And I am toonormal.”
“Yeah, you’re normal my ass,” Stephretorts.
She’s right, I’m totally notnormal.
“Anyway, I’m glad you’re putting yourself out there alittle.”
I love that she’s getting some human interaction other than with Brody and me. Nicole checks in on her once in a while, but usually it’s just the people in the home and me. She has no friends that are around anymore, which is sad but unsurprising. Most people don’t stick around long when something this serious happens. Not because they are cruel or uncaring. They just didn’t know what to say or how to handle themselves. I understand to some extent, but I hate it forher.
Unfortunately, it’s made it so there’s a great amount of loneliness that my sister struggles with. I can take her anger, knowing it isn’t really her, it’s her illness. What I can’t stomach is the thought of her feeling lonely. It breaks me in ways that I would sell my soul toprevent.
“I know there’s no future,” Her face falls, and her tone becomessullen.
“Stop.” I shake her hand. “You’re allowed to have friends, and if you both like comic books, then let ithappen.”
She laughs. “Can you go buy me a comic book so I know what they looklike?”
I burst into laughter. “Surething.”
Stephanie looks away as her exhilaration fades. “I don’t want to getattached.”
“Babe, he’s a nurse, he knows what he’s gettinginto.”
Of all the possible people she could have met, I’m happy it’s him. He probably understands better than anyone what her future lookslike.
“May—” she starts to say and begins to cough, which is deep and wet and sends me straight into panicmode.
I rub her back as she gets control. “I’ll get the doctor,” I say, but she grips myarm.
“No, it’s fine. It’s just from the air conditioner. I had them fixit.”
“Are you sure?” Iask.
“Yes, it’s fine. See? I’mfine.”
She crosses her arms across her chest and waits for me to relax. I hate that I fuss over her so much, but I can’t help it. I feel like my vigilance is the only thing keeping her alive. I’m not going to quitnow.
“Fine, but if you cough like that again . . .” She doesn’t need to hear the rest to know what Imean.
“You’re so not normal.” She rolls her eyes while shaking her head. “So, you went to thecemetery?”
