PART 1

The call came at 2:17 on a rainy Thursday afternoon.

I almost ignored it.

The number wasn’t saved, and I was halfway through a meeting at the elementary school where I worked as a guidance counselor.

It rang again.

Then again.

I finally stepped into the hallway.

“Hello?”

A man’s voice answered.

“Is this Emily Carter?”

“Yes.”

“My name is Ryan.”

He paused.

“I’m with your sister.”

Every muscle in my body tensed.

“What happened to Hannah?”

“There was an accident.”

The world around me disappeared.

Hannah.

My little sister.

Thirty-two years old.

Born with a mild intellectual disability.

The sweetest person I’d ever known.

She remembered every birthday.

She mailed Christmas cards in July.

She believed everyone deserved a second chance.

And somehow…

She always found reasons to smile.

“I need you to come to Mercy General Hospital,” Ryan said quietly.

“They’re taking her into surgery.”

Twenty-five minutes later, I burst through the emergency room doors.

My older brother, Jake, was already there.

His eyes were red.

“What happened?”

He shook his head.

“They won’t tell me much.”

We had practically raised Hannah together after our mother died.

She wasn’t just our sister.

She was our responsibility.

Our family.

A trauma surgeon finally walked toward us.

“She’s alive.”

I exhaled for the first time in minutes.

“But…”

My heart stopped.

“She lost a lot of blood.”

“We’re optimistic…”

“…but the next few hours are critical.”

Jake punched the wall.

I grabbed his arm before security noticed.

Then I saw him.

The man who had called me.

Early thirties.

Jeans.

Rain-soaked jacket.

His hands were covered in dried blood.

He looked completely broken.

“I’m Ryan.”

I nodded.

“Thank you for calling.”

He swallowed hard.

“I should’ve protected her.”

Jake frowned.

“Protected her from what?”

Ryan looked down.

“There are things about Hannah…”

“…that neither of you know.”

My stomach tightened.

“What things?”

Before he could answer…

A nurse hurried toward us.

“Family of Hannah Carter?”

“Yes!”

“She’s awake.”

The three of us ran toward her room.

Hannah smiled weakly when she saw us.

“Emily…”

“I’m here.”

Jake kissed her forehead.

“We’re both here.”

She squeezed my hand.

Then looked at Ryan.

Finally…

She whispered something that made my entire body freeze.

“Tell them…”

“…about Lily.”