Dear Brother: A forbidden love story

t 1st,

the 121 tow

e dull, rain-soaked scenery slipping past the window. She couldn't help but wonder what she'd

nd her dad would be in the bathroom, having a shower; then they'd go out to town, while she stayed at home with her big brother, Matt; they'd watch movies togeth

he'd gone to sleep and tell her how much he loved her; mom wouldn't be there to keep her in check, telling her

r so angry and upset at times with his teasing but then he wasn't there, and she would have given anything to have him call

did I have to survive and they all

ting slow-motion picture, replaying over and over again. She knew,

; he said the guy had got lost and had to detour. He should have been traveling south away from them, on

y were on a country road, stopping for gas, before heading out onto the 89 towards New Hampshire. They were

whose face was all moody and sullen, hi

rlfriend was often a sore subject, especially of late, but Lena wanted to tease him; he'd been ignoring her for

said with a shrug as if his bad temper wasn't upsetting h

." Matt exclaimed suddenly, glaring at his sister. She just narrowe

enty-one years old...don't be so childish. Besides, Lena's right...you do take it out on us whenever you'

wouldn't allow him to answer his mother with spit

was right; she always was. Lowering his gaze to his knees, he muttered

den brown color of a dormouse. She was far too skinny to look like a healthy kid. Her arms were folded and her green eyes were etc

than him and she'd slept with half of his friends at college, yet she still hadn't slept with him; it was driving him mad! He couldn't exactly explain to his twelve-ye

fault. He leaned over and poked her playfully in the rib, making her wriggle and laugh. It w

softly. "I guess I'm a b

hat a great girl she'd be when she got older; a girl with half her charm or intelligence would have it made and add that together with her good looks and wit...well, he hated to think wh

telling her of the time he and his friend were caught smoking pot in their college dorms. "We didn't even consider

er think she'd really hurt him. He laughed and began to tickle her again. As her father pulled away, her eyes flickered to the window over Matt's shoulder and there it was, like a cargo ship

f laughter as he looked up at her, then they'd darkened as he'd met her eyes and his skin pale

to the warmth of his chest. Just as she felt his arms pull her close and his body moves over her, to protect her, she

r name or how she'd come to be there. She could hear a voice, echoing from her dreams, pleading with her to open her e

eemed so dark and eerie, like a graveyard. She thought how hospitals, ironically

ring, hot pain shot through her like a blade. At the same time, quite suddenly, she remembered who

aired nurse. He was a tall man with thin, grey-streaked hair; she was shorter

The man said, approaching her bed. "I'm Dr. Taylor and this is you

.." her voice was dry and painful; "Where are my family?" she manage