7
***A chill shimmied up my spine, and the resulting shudder landed me ass-first on the bed. “How long does she have?”
“The doctors don’t know. They’re saying to notify her next of kin. Well, honey, that’s you. She says she’ll hold on for you to come.”
I’d fisted my left hand like I could hold on to my aunt and all she represented—all that was left of my family—through sheer force of will. “Tell her I’ll be there as soon as I can. If I leave now, I can be there by this evening.”
“Just be careful. You won’t be doing anyone any good if you get into a car accident.”
I promised her I’d be careful and hung up. I barely noticed my surroundings as I tiptoed down the hall and the stairs, intending to sneak out without waking anyone. The red light on the alarm panel beside the side door stoppe
