Dear Lilly,

I know I haven't been able to write you in a while, but I have some terrifying news. It's something I know you don't want to hear, but I must tell you. My doctor called telling me I'm going into kidney failure. And I won't be home for a while. . .

Lilly couldn't finish reading the letter. She could only stare at the two terrifying words sitting in front of her. Kidney failure. How was Dad in kidney failure? Will he survive?  Lilly's mind swirled with questions. As soon as her mother and Katherine got home, Lilly showed them the letter. Katherine, Lilly's sister, excused herself and whipped out of the room. 

They had never seen Katherine so broken up before. Her mother stood up, but Lilly stopped her. "Mom, how about I go talk to her? Please?"

Her mother replied concerned, "I don't know. . ."

"Please, Mom. I never had time with Katherine and she's going off to college soon. Please?"

Her mother agreed. "Well, all right."

Lilly walked over to her sister. "Katherine? Are you OK?" 

Katherine looked up, eyes red from crying. "Go away, Lilly."

Her sister refused, "I'm not leaving. Why did you run off like that? Is there something you're not telling me?"

Katherine replied, "No. I just . . ." She sighed. "I have a secret I haven't told anyone, and you are the very first person I've told in a long time. But promise you won't tell?"

"I promise. What is it?" 

*  *  *  *

"You what?" Lilly's eyes went huge.

"I have cancer. Please don't tell anyone. You're the only one I've ever told and I don't want anyone thinking of me as a freak."

"Wait, but what about school?"

"Oh my God, I forgot about that. I don't know. I'll think of something."

"OK then. I'll just tell Mom it was nothing." Lilly left her sister.

When Lilly returned to the living room, her mother had left and there was a note on the sofa: 

"Lilly, I've gone to the store to get some groceries. Love you both."

-Mom.

"Katherine! Mom went to the grocery store to get some things!" Lilly called on her way up the stairs. When she reached the top, she heard Katherine crying again. As she entered the room, the girl looked like she was about to erupt. "Katherine, I thought we already talked."

"Dr. Granger called."

"What did he say?"

"I have leukemia. What am I going to do? I can't have a normal life telling people. If Jeremy finds out, my social life is over. He'll find another girlfriend. I'll never be able to live with myself."

She was crushed. Thinking thoroughly, she couldn't find an answer. "Do you know how you got it in the first place?"

"Well, yeah. I got it from one side of the family. I guess I got it from. . ." She thought for a moment. "Uncle Romero. He has cancer."

At that very moment, Lilly's phone buzzed. "Oh, crap. It's late, I have to get to school." She zipped downstairs, out the door, and into the car to get to school. Once she got there, kids were wedging from left to right, rushing to get to fourth period on time. She got bumped a few times, but luckily got to her locker. Once there, she opened her locker, and immediately noticed someone walking towards her. Oh no. It was Jacob Dallas, her former boyfriend. She immediately hid her face with the locker door so he wouldn't see her. Too late, she thought. Now what? I don't want to freak in front of him. Just act casual.

"Hi," he said sheepishly. "I heard about Katherine. Sorry about that."

"But how. . ." I didn't tell anybody. "Who told you?"

"Are you kidding? Lilly, it's major news. Everybody knows. I also wanted to ask you something."

"OK. What is it?"

"I wanted to know if you wanted to go out sometime. I want to take you out to dinner. Well, if you're not busy or anything."

"I-I don't know what to say."

"Don't say. Just think. I'll call you." He quickly kissed her on the cheek and sped off.