Chapter 4

Logan was admitted to the hospital.

The surgery went well. Next came chemotherapy.

Aaliyah cleared her entire work schedule, staying at the hospital with him every day.

I was running between school and the hospital, while also preparing my study-abroad applications. I barely had time to breathe.

One day, after coming back from the hospital, Aaliyah stopped me.

"Charles."

I paused and turned to look at her.

She held out a key.

"I bought an apartment near your school. Two bedrooms, already furnished. You should… move in as soon as possible."

I froze for a second, then took it and nodded. "Okay."

No questions. No hesitation.

She watched me, like she was searching my face for something.

But I just calmly pocketed the key and turned to go upstairs.

The next day, I started packing.

Most of my stuff, I planned to donate or throw out.

In the new apartment, I'd buy everything new. Start a brand new life.

I came home later and later. I was barely at the dinner table.

Things in my room dwindled day by day.

The bookshelf empty. The closet empty. Only a single jewelry box left on the desk.

That night, I didn't get home until past ten.

Aaliyah was sitting on the living room couch, no lights on.

In the dark, the tip of her cigarette glowed and faded.

"You're back late," she said, voice cold. "Where were you?"

My hand paused as I changed shoes. "Something at school."

After putting my shoes on, I walked straight to my room.

Behind me came the sound of a glass hitting the table.

Logan's chemo went smoothly.

Three months later, the doctor said he was recovering well and could go home, with regular checkups.

The day he was discharged, I went too.

He'd lost a lot of weight, but he was in good spirits.

Aaliyah went to handle the discharge paperwork. Logan and I waited in the room.

"Charles." Logan suddenly said. "Did you and Aaliyah… have a fight?"

I froze.

Logan sighed. "She's been in such a bad mood lately."

"People at the company complain to me—they avoid her whenever they see her."

I didn't say anything.

Logan took my hand. "I know about her making you move out."

"I gave her hell for it. Don't worry—as long as I'm here, that's still your home."

I gripped his hand back, looking at him seriously.

"Logan. I've grown up. I should have my own life. And I'm already filing my study-abroad paperwork. I might leave next year."

Logan's eyes went wide. "Study abroad? Where? For how long?"

"England. Grad school. Probably two or three years."

His eyes welled up again.

"Then… you'll be alone over there. Take good care of yourself. Tell us if anything comes up, okay?"

"Mm."

Logan wiped his eyes, then suddenly grinned.

"Charles, let me set you up with a friend of mine. She's a junior from my old school, an architect, super sweet."

I shook my head. "It's okay, Logan."

"What do you mean it's okay? You'll be so lonely all by yourself."

I hesitated, then told him the truth. "Actually… I'm already seeing someone."

"What?" Logan's eyes went wide again.

"We met when I was filing my paperwork. We're applying to the same school."

Logan's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands.

"That's great! I have to tell your sister! We'd better check this girl out first—can't have anyone playing you!"

"You don't need to—" I tried to stop him, but he'd already picked up his phone.

"Oh, she's back." Logan put his phone down and looked at the door.

Aaliyah pushed the door open, discharge papers in hand.

When she saw the two of us getting along so well, her gaze darkened.

"What's got you two so happy?" She walked over and naturally hooked her arm through Logan's.

Logan tilted his head up at her, his eyes shining.

"I was just saying I should set Charles up with someone. Guess what?"

She glanced at me, her tone certain. "He turned you down."

"You're right—he didn't agree."

She gave a flat little hum.

"He's been clingy to me his whole life. He didn't even want to live in the dorms in college. You think he'd want a girlfriend?"

Logan chuckled and added,

"But he says he already has a girlfriend! And he's going abroad with her!"