CHAPTER II. My Sister

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49WLYJgnwa

She seemed in a better mood.

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoaRGUta2R

When Jamie came onstage, Nora leaned closer so she could see past the woman in front.

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNyrK2HS9m

He said his first line to the cardboard tree instead of the other actor.

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKh5pY8bNF

Nora pressed her lips together. Her shoulder shook against mine.

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWRjvrPm2W

“Don't,” I whispered.

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutDBNBogz2

“I'm not doing anything.”

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNau6qxx7k

“You're shaking.”

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sozgsvXNy

She squeezed my hand, just as she used to when we were little and trying not to laugh in church. I knew that squeeze.

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZFv4YmnHa

For a while, I forgot we were supposed to be annoyed with each other.

At the end of the scene, everyone applauded. Nora let go of my hand. I looked sideways at her.

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8XfWx915i

Her palms faced outwards.

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKVqgqRowP

She brought the backs of her hands together with a quiet clap. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU373QTEvak

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlJCIr0QUR

────── ✠ ────── 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoN7hCquyK

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbx0PHgiK1

Before I could look properly, the woman in front stood up to take a photo. When she sat down again, Nora's hands were in her lap. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkcW2yp3VY

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NqJ7i3onr

“What?” Nora whispered. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm9rIN8Bg8

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIN3nXeG05

“Nothing.” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlTSjRYCnQ

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡay0rGzsJpw

Maybe she was trying not to knock her rings together. She was wearing three of them. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnwPpaLxc8

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RHHowJ628

My phone vibrated against my leg. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFvmnBlcmo

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiZM2R5P2z

Nora calling .

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJjUmvdLKD

I showed her the screen. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmBwLDnBML

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpZVGq9YDg

“You're calling me.” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9A7Ba3wbs

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdTqKX6BaM

She glanced down. “That's strange.” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQk3GaFCQn

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFscPZFY5K

“Where's your phone?” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnNjRjdWeN

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJE8xRIjAaz

“In my bag.” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzksrT70aF

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC81u1YeTe

She reached under the seat for her bag. I answered before she sat up again. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmadufv0hq

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡade3Z4snjL

“Hello?” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UBLBOHwAM

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOzgWiI4Sx

“Lilith? Where are you?” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPsTjpIMAn

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YMyJ1oSaQ

It sounded like Nora, but she was out of breath. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8DW9GZxVA

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQ5L38icEN

“In the hall.” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQquBIjBL4B

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlH8oYCShS

“Which door are you near?” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi627E1hOSH

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc10lL9aDZO

“The left one. Why?” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrpNnSeLOi

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGQ5mcDEyD

I heard something scrape against the phone. Someone was speaking in the background, but I couldn't make out the words. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoBCIq169p

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡab8GOceVo8

“Don't leave with—” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtumJTfH2QD

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUfMYFe1am

The sound started cutting out. I heard my name again, then the call ended. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWoplFw5P1

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKTRkidcII

Beside me, Nora sat upright with her phone in her hand. Its screen was black. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZB5Hq8Mn5z

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIPVVQkf74

“Who was it?” she asked. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHwsxRgFZV

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzsb0r2aKA

“You.” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVncbf3Mpf5

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsm5RCnG4j

She pressed the side button. Nothing happened. “Mine's dead.” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1KGZjW0DJ

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6r6iYt1Az

I stared at the two phones. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5u5hkr2XB3

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMP7ExXDMx

“But I heard you.” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluVtLMkr3m

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVggNs2Xx0

“Are you sure?” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJKGvvJinK

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJZtMGwOXq

She didn’t laugh. That frightened me more than if she had. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMo6SdVvte

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvzRgNgCxq

I called back, but no one answered. Eventually it went to voicemail. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHr6ldvwLP6

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LT7Dxdtl1

Onstage, someone dropped a metal tray. I jumped so hard that Nora put a hand on my arm. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8RDTqMv6F

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKGI6rODeg

“Let's go outside.” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EdW3JLIip

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMYG54q88N

“Jamie's last scene—” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0rDMZPKG7

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtSvzqTx6X

“We'll stand by the doors. You'll still be able to see.” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzS83mbTCG

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LuD0EW4aH

We moved into the aisle. She picked up her bag and waited while I put my phone away. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHyeAkpoML

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxiEnXKZ2H

It vibrated again. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyxu3R5W3M

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbapDNapB8O

Stay where there are people. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6Qy3HMHeN

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VNvAzAQJQ

I stopped. Nora read the message over my shoulder. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Her hand was still on my arm. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRtT1oqzOj

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxh3HK9h0M

Then she said, “Call Mum.” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDWnyJZZbI

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39hmdKOA6T

That was exactly what my sister would have said. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLulcnLzgyO

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKyZTizRu8

Mum didn't answer. I could see her near the front, holding up her phone to record Jamie. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg5GFrxmux

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1F6CUA9ix8

Nora looked towards the stage. “She's filming. We'll find her afterwards.”

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFG4YaG36zA

We stood by the doors at the back of the hall.

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dej97HFoH

She stayed beside me until the curtain came down. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbnj5r7HJE

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0W7MDLGwL

88.181.249.5

ns88.181.249.5da2