Page 88 of Sweet Like a Psycho (Secrets of Suburbi 2)

Miles' hand fell from mine as he sat up. "What is that?" He looked out the window of the tree house. "Summer..."

His voice sounded strange. I sat up and looked out the window too.

There was a police car. The officer walked to my door and knocked. Why was he knocking on my door? Why was Julie's hand covering her mouth? Why did it look like he was trying to comfort her?

My feet started moving before my mind could even process what was happening.

"Summer!" Miles called after me as I climbed down the rickety ladder and started running back toward my house.

Once I was through the gate into my yard, I kicked off my bunny slippers so I could run even faster.

Julie turned toward me. The police officer turned toward me. And then I froze. Because he started walking toward me. He wasn't there to tell Julie something. He was there to tell me something.

The officer crouched down in front of me and I held my breath for one second.

"Your parents were in an accident."

For two seconds.

"We rushed them to the hospital."

For three seconds.

"I'm so sorry, Summer."

For four seconds.

"They didn't make it."

It took five seconds for me to realize that my whole world had suddenly changed. Five seconds to realize that my life was no longer complete. Five seconds to realize that everything was broken.

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