Chapter 22Francine Saint-Jacques went slowly, as someone would creep up to a strange and open door.
“It’s over.” Johan rested his strong and heavy hand on my shoulder. “She’s gone.”
Mom’s whimpering caused my jaw to harden.
“Leave me alone.” I slapped Johan’s hand off my shoulder. My fists clenched. “Go.”
Their quiet footsteps unnerved me. I waited, staring into the face of the only person who had ever known me.
Me.
The authentic me. The boy. The man.
And I watched her lips, praying for one final word out of them, then sobbed like a child.
When I stepped out of her room, I found everyone waiting.
Nathan took a shy step towards me. “Derek, hey—”
“No.” I flinched. “Go home.”
He shrunk back, retreating to the corner of the lobby, and I watched him hesitate by the door, as though he
