a) gives lots of $$$ to this hospital
b) are big cheeses two towns over
c) are “kinda creepy.”
And one of them mentioned that you all go to Helshire, which turned out to be a real college. So I am spending a stamp to remind you of a certain promise you made to write me, which you are in danger of breaking.
But enough about—> you.
My big news is that my most recent therapy is WORKING. It uses my own body’s immune system to beat the cancer, which seems like the best way to get cured of anything. (Except for crystals, which would be even easier, except they don’t work.) But the bad part of cranking up my immune system is that certain things are inflamed now, and they aren’t the things that you want to be flaming. (Not really on fire, but sometimes it feels that way. When pooping!)
Aren’t you glad I’m telling you about the wonderful life of Cancer Kid?
My legs don’t work better yet but they will.
I saw some good news on TV—climate change is making cephalopods (octopuses) explode! In numbers, not the regular way, which would be bad.
Exciting things have happened here since you left. That nurse with the eyebrows is getting married, and has “fixed” her eyebrows. (I liked them better before. Now there’s no way she’s a werewolf.) The lime jello disappeared for a week, until I made them bring it back. (Hero.) The girl in your old room is fifteen, but isn’t as funny as you. Someone needs to take away her phone, my mom said. Agreed, except I wish I had a phone. (Did you remember the tragedy of me not having a phone? Or did you forget? How is your brain? Is it still stapled together?)
Is yourentirefamily creepy? Some of your cousins are clearly slongers, but you’re not. Surely there are other amusing Mortons like you.
Well, I hope you are having fun at Hell-shire. What are you learning? Do you have a best friend? Study partner? Roommate?
Write and tell me things, because you promised.
Don’t forget your seat belt,
Bellamy!!!
55
The heat wave stoking the Canadian fires reached Helshire in the third week of senior year.
Temperatures stayed above ninety, even in the dead of night. The grass on the Quad became brown and crispy to the touch. We Lavernick girls amused ourselves with gossip, invented a religion based on air purifiers, and played endless games of poker.
As the world burned, I focused on the first task: hiding myself.
I tried to listen to music without crying, but failed when it was beautiful. I put butterfly clips on my fingertips, but it hurt too much. When I took up archery again, my hands shook.
My only success was treating Sebastian as I always had in public—like an amusement, an unreliable flirt. We were the only thing I could hide.
He and I weren’t worried about our second task. If anyone had an innate sense of rebellion, it was Gertie. When we eventually told her about Care, she’d either happily join, or shrug us off.
Not one’s cup of tea.
The problem came after her. Peter had been the lone survivor in his class, and I’d murdered him. In the next was only Thomas, still a freshman.
We had three years to teach him that our family was wrong.
In our fourth week back, I summoned him to my room.
“How are your classes?”
“Accounting is fine,” he sighed. “But I really like Legacy Bronze Age.”
“The Romans came. We survived. The Romans left.”
Thomas laughed. “Turns out Grandma’s version was missing a few beats. Uncle Milo says we were incorporating centurions the whole time!”