yn's

d throbbed, and I hadn't slept a wink. Every time I

not one

a wer

mehow ended up at Theo's. I couldn't

aybe I'd wake up and find my parents laug

down, I k

from the hallway, a

is messy hair. He looked exhausted, but

aven't slep

ok my

ou showed up here crying and

now where e

de me, stud

parents

owed hard. "They told me t

ows drew

ha

s my biological mother. Sh

d at me fo

sure you heard

there

y, b

said I'm

nt si

tears. "Say something. You're

just trying to understand. Why would they wait until yo

n't k

the tears I'd been f

my hand. "We'll

am anymore. Everything I bel

ruth. Whatever happens, yo

eful that at least one pe

answers, and my parents were the o

e to g

rowned

owe me an e

my boss will kill me i

ne. I'll

ted befor

n you get th

wil

my thing

. Who were my biological parents? Why had the Cranes hidden the truth

ghts that I barely notic

gate open

oor stood s

ic blared f

nd had scolded me countless times for turni

" I c

ans

rmed in m

the door and

ned, chairs were smashed, and the television Dad had

saw the

the floor and disappeare

d it, silently begging for wha

I saw

ad

ionless on

nees. His eyes were closed, and his skin

ad, wa

houlder, but

ase,

ice reache

ely

pped

overturned table, s

om

her clothes, and deep, ragged gashes covered her body, as

hat hap

blood stain

ely

nst her wound, desperately trying to stop the blee

ightened weak

ave to

d. "No. I'm no

come for

eath

this to you? W

eached into her pocket and

They'll p

ropped to

THORN

t the word

, please, tell me

truggled to draw a breath. "You

and. "You're my mother

ile touche

ays be yo

om

, Ev

yes c

fr

om

dn't r

r gently,

ake up!

th

ied my face against her shoulder, refusing to accept that the woma

her wa

her wa

ea who had take

nge card and two wor

Eve