16

16

Emma Starr

There was Mrs. Elton from the supermarket. By her side was Morticia and a few familiar faces, Mr. Henry didn’t exclude himself, as he was just right at the front.

To my surprise, they brought themselves down here to the hospital making my heart flutter with so much appreciation held in them.

“I’m so sorry, Emma. I should have listened to you when you said you couldn’t manage the party. Who knew this was what you meant? Oh, this is so hard to take in...”

Mr. Henry sounded sober, bringing out some hanky to clean his eyes. “We agreed not to make her feel sad.”

Someone whispered, but I could hear making me smile a bit watching an elderly woman come forward,

“Whatever this is, we are fighting it together, Emma, don’t you worry child.”

I nodded, as she hugged me in comfort. My hands moved to return the hug, feeling extremely foreign. There was a reason I didn’t want any of them to know about my condition. I didn’t want them to worry so much about me.

We were like a family. Any