Silence Falls by Love Gordon
“How long has it been?”
“Four weeks.”
“It’s worse than when Mikey-”
“Well, he was his best friend, after all, but still, it’s the second time he’s been through this. And… he really loved her. I could sense it.”
“You and your ‘auras’! But it really is so sad. She was so intelligent, from what I hear.”
“A full scholarship to Yale. Room, board, tuition, the whole shebang. I swear, she is- was- as smart as he is. And my brother’s as smart as a whip.”
“How’s her family taking it? I talked to her mother, but she was distracted…”
“Oh, parents out of their minds with grief, I hear. Sister’s doing okay, more than I can say for her friend. Completely fallen to pieces.”
“Yeah… I wish that he hadn’t fallen for someone, so very young. They are, really. And to have her die, the same type of cancer even, as his best friend, just- what? Three years apart? I’m worried he’ll never recover. Of course, I’m sad about the girl and all, but really… it’s a more immediate situation.”
“You had the maid take all the sharp things out of his room?”
“As if I’d forget. That night in the emergency room, right after Mikey…”
“Yeah, I worried too. I was only, what, thirteen at the time?”
“It was just past your birthday, yes. It was three years ago, almost exactly.”
“I feel so sorry for Tom. The girl was so sweet, when we met her, funny, almost like my friend Isabelle. Then she relapsed, and he broke it off with, and was so angry with himself afterwards-”
“Daria was too much like Mikey, Elsie, much too soon. Be understanding of your brother. He’s only human, you know.”
“Yes, Mom, I know. Thinking about it, it’s just so… horrible. She was smart, going places, almost kind of pretty…”
“Such a waste…”