banned from the property, and you’ll never be allowed to come near me again. I’m asking you for once in your life to choose me. Choose your son.”
For a moment, she wavers. But when she looks at me, it’s not indecision in her eyes. It’s resentment.
“You ruined my whole life.”
The needle pierces her skin, and she injects the liquid into her vein. I shouldn’t be disappointed when I expected nothing more from her. But I meant what I said. Suzy can’t be a part of my life anymore. Not like this.
She grunts and collapses back onto the pillow, the needle still hanging from her arm as her head starts to nod. Nothing else even touches her consciousness when she’s like this. So, for our last few moments together, I move to the bed to sit beside her. I brush the hair away from her face and try to recall one good memory, even a split second when I felt truly loved, but there aren’t any. All she ever left me with were scars.
Her eyes drift shut, and our conversation is officially over. The only thing I can take with me are the last words she said to me.
You ruined my whole life.
I look at her withered face one last time, and whisper, “Goodbye, Suzy.”
28
Kailani
My mom makes a huge deal about my birthday every year. She always says we should celebrate life, and this year is no different. Just after midnight, she and Theo sneak into my room to wake me up with a celebration.
She begins with our usual tradition, placing the lei po’o she probably spent all day making onto my head. The crown of flowers is beautiful with vibrant shades of pink and white, just like the others before it. I’ve saved every crown she’s ever given me.
It isn’t long until the music comes on, blasting one of my favorite songs by Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” I think it’s the most beautiful rendition of all time.
Soon, I have a cup of pineapple whip in my hand, and they are dancing around the room like maniacs since I can’t. Theo’s dance moves are pretty much restrained to bobbing his knees left and right, but it brings a smile to my face regardless. My mom bursts into a fit of laughter as she tries to instruct him, and soon, we are all laughing so hard our sides ache.
They join me on the bed, dipping into their own pineapple whips after the performance. When they offer me my gifts, I open them eagerly. There’s a new pair of dance shoes for when I’m ready to get back on my feet, a few gift cards for my favorite bookstores, and a handwritten journal with some of their life’s wisdom and advice to guide me into adulthood. It warms my heart to see they went to all this trouble, and I honestly can’t wait to read it.
When I look up at them, I almost burst into tears. I haven’t had a father for as long as I can remember, but right now, it feels like I do. He’s been here all along, and I took that for granted. Theo didn’t have to accept me the way he has. He didn’t have to make an effort even when I was a little beast, but he did. He loved me anyway. And he loves my mom more than anything, which I can’t thank him enough for because she deserves the whole world.
I think it shocks the hell out of everyone when I fling myself toward him and hug him. When we finally pull away, my mom is crying happy tears, too, nodding her understanding. I squeeze the life out of her next, and then we all go to bed with the promise of more celebrations to come.
Of course my first day back at school would happen to fall on my eighteenth birthday. Mom tried to convince me to stay home one more day, but I need to get back to my routine. The longer I put it off, the harder it will be.
If I had any hopes that people would forget who I was or just ignore me, those are dashed as I hobble down the hall with my boot. Everyone is whispering and staring. I can hear their quiet speculations, blaming me for Landon’s absence and even my own shattered ankle. A few of the cheerleaders snicker as I walk past, gleefully pointing out I’ve gained back the extra weight I lost before