Kara Something felt weird inside my chest again, I thought, kicking a rock on the ground because I hated everything. It felt like there was a wild animal inside it trying to get out and making me want to cry. The bullies liked it when I cry. They laughed so hard they could piss their pants. So I never wanted to cry ever again. I was never going to cry again. I limped my way back home, glaring at the sky because shouldn't God have helped me earlier when Patricia tripped me down the stairs? Shouldn't He have sent his angels and pulled out my enemies' hairs because they were bad? I waited and waited for God to come help me, but when it was clear He wouldn't, I got up and punched their faces. There were two of them. I thought it was a fair fight. This time. Next time I knew they were going to bring more friends. My head hurt. My scalp felt wet, probably sweat, trickling down the side of my face, but I didn't bother wiping it. I kicked another rock, harder this time, and cried out in pain when my foot slipped, and I fell on my butt. "Kaw-ra!" I looked up and found Dylan running so fast toward me. His little legs pumped, his arms stretched out to his sides behind him just like he saw a ninja do on TV. One of his socks was higher than the other, his shoelaces weren't tied properly again so that the ends dragged to the ground. There was chocolate stain on his face but none on his favorite Iron Man t-shirt. He would do anything to protect his t-shirt. "Why are you sitting on the dirt?" he asked. His r's sounded like w's. Dirt sounded like dowt. "Kaw-ra, get up." "I told you to wait at Charity's house." I retied his shoelaces, wiping the stain on his face with my hands. "I waited and waited at Chatty's house. I lost my patient." "Patience," I corrected. "Patient." I chuckled, wiped my hands on my pants, patted his head. "All right, you big goof. Let's go home." I rose, wincing when I felt a sharp pain on my leg. Dad wouldn't be home for another hour. Even though Dad hadn't said anything last night, I knew his shoulder bothered him. He would ask me to put some cream—the one that made my nose tingle and my eyes sting from the cold, sharp, minty smell, but we ran out. I was planning on buying him one at Mr. Rogers' grocery store after school, but then those jerks happened. "Kaw-ra!" I turned around. Dylan was in the same spot, glaring at me. He pouted, raised both his arms up. "You're a big boy now. You gotta walk." He jutted his chin out, crossed his arms against his chest. I closed my eyes, counted to three. There was no talking him out of it judging by the stubborn jut of his chin. Letting out a sigh of frustration, I walked back to him. His smile was sweet and innocent as he raised his arms to me again, looking at me expectantly. I couldn't help but smile back because he was too adorable and lifted him up. He was half my size and already too heavy to carry, but it didn't matter. "Y'okay? Your hair looks funny." Probably because some jerks pulled at it earlier. "You're too big for me to carry now." "Come on, Kaw-ra. Oh nos." "What are you doing?" I let out another deep, frustrated breath when he kept pulling his shirt off. It was caught between his round belly and my arms. "Dylan, stop wiggling around or I'm going to drop you." "But...but..." I gritted my teeth, shifted him in my arms so he could pull his shirt. If he'd just behave for one minute and let me walk us home, then we'd be there in no time. But no, he just had to— I nearly stumbled on my feet when he used his favorite t-shirt to gently wipe my forehead. I heard him sob. "Does it hurt?" His hurt sounded like howt and it was so cute I nearly cried too. "It's okay, Kaw-ra Koala. Y'okay. It's just red water." I swallowed the tears in my throat. "I feel so much better. Thanks, peanut." He grinned even as tears fell on his cheeks. "I wuv you, Kaw-ra." My eyes snapped open. For a moment everything spun. Bile rushed up my throat. I fell back on the bed, squishing my lips together, breathing hard. I felt sweat popped on my forehead. "Stay down, Kara. You're safe now." Safe? Suddenly everything came back. The truck, the brakes, the terror in— "Dylan!" Charity held my hand, squeezed. "You're safe. Do you want some water?" "No, I..." Panic was settling in, numbing my limbs. "Do you remember what happened?" "Please tell me where my brother is." "He's right beside you." I sat up, my head whipped so fast I saw stars. I held on to the bed railing, blinked the blur away. I found Dylan sleeping on a bed beside mine. "We're at Esther Falls Hospital. Both of you were lucky." I swallowed the tears, tried to control my breathing. My heart slammed so hard in my chest it started to hurt. I looked at my baby brother longer and when I was sure he was okay I fell back on the pillows in relief. "You sure Dylan's fine?" She nodded. "He hurt his left leg. A little concussion. Doctor wants to wait a few days before Dylan gets a cast, wait for the swelling to go down. A few scratches and scrapes. You sprained your wrist, but other than that both of you are fine. Thank God." "Dad! Where's Dad?" "He's talking to the doctor right now." "Is Dad okay?" "A little shaken up, but he's fine. Kara, relax." I looked at the bandage on my wrist, bent it a little, flinched when I felt pain. "How long was I out?" "You slept the whole night. Dylan was up before you." I didn't remember anything after the accident. "It's evening now. You should get some rest. The doctor will be here to check on you soon." "Can you tell me what happened? All I remember was..." I pressed my fingers on my temple when my head started to hurt. "It's okay, hon. Don't try to remember. Here, drink a little." She pushed a button to raise the bed, helped me sit up so I could sip a little water.