My heart ached too much, and talking about it wouldn’t solve anything. Besides, Mom was right. Although I’d never met Leanna, she would recognize me as the “freak” who predicted her brother’s death. I’d warned him not to drive on prom night, but he’d just laughed about it with his pals. Only no one was laughing when he died in a fiery crash. Instead they pointed fingers of blame at me, as if knowing made me guilty. And I loved my sisters too much to ruin their birthday. How am I going to tell them I can’t go to their party? I thought, blinking back tears. Say I have a date? Fake a contagious illness? Or just blow them off like I don’t care? Lying is horrible, I hate it! But what other choice do I have? My lie will be like a secret birthday gift to my sisters, so they can keep believing Mom is perfect and I’m the screw up. It was so hard, wanting to do the right thing yet not sure what would hurt my sisters more.
