Page 109 of Be My Compass

“That wasn’t my question.” Her stare gets firm. “You’d really throw Glory in my face?”

“If I had to.”

She smiles almost… proudly. “Does Kastle know?”

“What?”

“How much like me you are?”

Her words slap me right in the chest. Right there where hopes, fears, and dreams are born and die.

Amelia fixes one of my curls. Her pale, slender fingers look ghostly against my dark skin and black hair. Her sharp eyes cut into me as she whispers, “He’s going to hate you.”

“Don’t touch me.” I swat her hand away.

She steps back and lifts her chin. “Take down the pictures.”

“I still don’t hear an apology.”

She squares her shoulders. “If you’re going to be stubborn about it, then I guess I’m done here.”

I brandish my hand at the exit. “Forgive me if I don’t see you out. I’m sure you can make your own way.”

Smiling darkly, Amelia stops in front of the door. “Watch your back, Kaelyn.”

“Is that a threat?”

The door slamming shut is her reply.

Twenty-Four

Kastle

The hospital shouldn’t be this full at this time of night. Why are so many people sick? Why are so many people hurting?

They’re all praying for a miracle. All desperate to be chosen out of the millions. All clinging to faith. To God. To whatever they believe in.

It’s such a strange contrast. The beauty of hope mixed with the stench of death. The despair mixed with the joy of good news. Great news.

It’s what we want to hear tonight.

Let her be okay.

I believe in God.

I believe in miracles.

A long time ago, a couple walked into an orphanage all the way across the world. A year later, they walked out with a kid who barely talked and didn’t eat.

They brought him to America.

They paid for his food, shelter and clothing.

They stuck cameras in his face and made him famous.

They gave him a company and made him a billionaire.

That random kid in that random orphanage.

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