“Mr. Whitley.” Alessia’s eyes darted away, her posture stiff and uncertain, like a child caught doing something wrong.


    Parrish let out a long sigh, swallowing the words he’d been about to say.


    He rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Mr. Whitley’s house is your home, too. What child doesn’te home eventually? You can’t just run off like that because of an argument, understand?”


    “I won’t ever do it again,” Alessia replied softly, her fingers nervously twisting together, betraying her unease.


    “If you want to keep your hair like this, then keep it. Honestly, it’s grown on me. I’ll talk to your homeroom teacher, don’t worry. As long as it’s not breaking any rules orws, Mr. Whitley supports whatever makes you happy.”


    Pretending not to notice her anxiety, Parrish ruffled her hair. He still didn’t quite get why kids these days dyed their hair all sorts of wild colors, but he tried to understand–and more importantly, he respected her choices.


    Alessia managed a small smile and nodded.


    “Is Ms. June asleep?” he asked.


    “She is.”


    “I’ll carry her to her room then. She tosses and turns all night if I don’t. And look at you–those dark circles under your eyes. Get some proper rest tonight, okay? How about a trip somewhere? You’ve already skipped a week of school–why not take another ten days or so? We could all go on a family vacation.”


    “Let’s wait until summer break,” Alessia said. “I want to catch up at school. I’ve missed a lot and need <i>to </i>make up for it.”


    “Alright. Just don’t overdo it—your healthes first.”


    Like any ordinary father, Parrish rarely voiced his worries, choosing instead to show his care through actions.


    All the words of love he’d ever had seemed reserved for Jade. Yet, in his own awkward way, Parrish still tried to look after Alessia, even if it came out a little rough around the edges.


    Her rebellious streak faded in just a week. Truthfully, even if Cole hadn’t gone looking for her that night, Alessia would havee around on her own after a


    <b>1/3 </b>


    while.


    Still, thanks to her family’s efforts, Alessia realized something important–her life was her own. She needed to live for herself, to treasure the people who truly cared about her, and let go of things that only hurt her, rather than letting them ruin her


    life.


    Time passed quietly, days slipping by with a gentle, ordinary sort of happiness.


    But just when it seemed like things would always stay this way, tragedy struck–so sudden, it left everyone reeling.


    When they arrived at the hospital, Parrish was already gone, the white sheet pulled up over his body. The doctor exined that he’d passed before they arrived, without even a word of farewell.


    Jade, though found in Parrish’s arms, was barely clinging to life. Even if she miraculously survived, she would spend the rest of her days in a wheelchair.


    “Family members, pleasee forward,” a nurse called gently.


    The two of them walked toward the morgue, each step heavy as lead. No one moved to pull back the sheet; neither of them could bear to take that first step.


    Seeing the two teenagers, the doctor didn’t rush them. He gave them all the time they needed.


    “Cole, go on. You should see him,” Alessia murmured.


    “Okay.”


    But despite their words, their hands stayed locked together, neither willing to let go, neither moving toward the table.


    “Ms. June is still waiting for us,” Alessia whispered.


    Cole’s lips trembled as he nodded.


    Bracing each other, they made their way to the cold metal bed, hands still tightly sped, as if letting go would mean losing everything.


    Cole squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them and, with shaking hands, lifted the sheet.


    Parrish’s face appeared, ghostly pale and utterly still, as if he were only sleeping.


    “Dad…<i>” </i>Cole’s voice broke as he called out softly, but there was no answer.


    Alessia bit down hard on her lip to keep from making a sound.


    213


    12:35


    There was no shouting<b>, </b><b>no </b>wailing–just the two of them backs trembling, gripping each other’s hands as they tried to ept the truth


    They’d nned a family trip for the summer, talked about shopping for new furniture <b>over </b>the weekend, even exchanged cheerful goodbyes that morning before leaving the house. Everything had seemed so normal, so happy–right up until the phone rang


    <b>Chapter </b><b>238 </b>