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Tell No One

*Ps: How old is a child if he/she is in Grammar school? Ah well, we have different educational system everywhere, so excuse my ignorance. Tell No One is a novel written by Harlan Coben. It tells a story of a couple named David and Samantha Becks. They had gone for a vacation and to put it simply, Samantha died in an accident. David Becks picked up the pieces of his life and moved on. Years later, he received calls, letters and even met a stranger who hinted that Samantha might be alive. Following these clues and the love he had for his wife, he went searching, only to find his own life placed in danger. Someone was trying to tell him of what happened to his wife while another was hunting for his life. Something was wrong, someone was hiding secrets and despite knowing all these, he found himself trapped, forced to keep it a secret. All he wanted to know was the truth. The way I look at it, AJ was about to become David. *~* Being promoted to Principal at Ever Green Grammar School after Mrs. Pauline stepped down a few months ago, was an honour to Jackie Littrell. She took pride in her job and since it was the only thing that had kept him going, it had became like an outstretched arm that she needed to hold on to. Letting go would mean losing all purpose to live. But lately, she wished that she had remain a regular teacher. Being a principal meant that she had to take care of the administrative side of things and what she thrived in doing was to be where the children were, where the laughter could be heard. There, she could push the picture of her husband and her son to the back of her mind. To give her that temporary state of nothing but happiness. Shaking the weariness off her face and putting on a smile, she turned the doorknob and opened the door. “Julia, can I see the next appointment please?” The middle-aged receptionist nodded and turning her attention over to the parent who had been waiting with her two children, said, “Mrs. Carter, you’re next.” Jane Carter acknowledged the receptionist with a smile and got up from her seat. Taking the twins by the hands on each side of her, she approached the principal. “Oh my goodness, Jane, is that you?” Jackie Littrell cried, hardly able to content her excitement. Jane frowned a little, trying to remember if she had seen the principal somewhere. Upon closer inspection, recognition dawn upon her. “Jackie?” Jane cried. “This is a great surprise!” Jackie beamed. “Why, you brought the twins! Oh dear, they’ve grown so big now!” “Well, that’s my purpose of being here actually.” Jane replied, her smile disappeared right after. Jackied nodded her head and from a mother to another, she felt her sadness even before she knew her plight. “Come on in then, we’ll have a talk.” Closing the door behind her, Jackie showed Jane to the yellow sofa at a corner of the room. Her eyes danced, her heart flutter at the sight of the twins struggling to get up on the sofa. Once settled, she sat on the single sofa facing them. “You’re registering the twins here?” Jackie asked. “I am hoping so. I know it’s already middle of the term but this is kind of short notice to me too.” Jane replied, unable to hide the disappointment in her voice. “What happened?” Jackie asked as she offered a bowl of sweets to the young boy and he had timidly took two and passed one to his sister before whispering a ‘thank you’ to her. She whispered her ‘welcome’ and when his blue eyes literally smiled back at her, she sensed the incoming wave of memories of her son and immediately tore her gaze to Jane. “I don’t know how to even begin this…” Jane replied, her eyes already burning with the sensation of the approaching tears. “Jane,” Jackie paused, waiting for her friend to look at her again. “you know you can tell me anything.” Jane nodded her head and felt the tears trailed down her cheeks. She laughed it off and wiped them quickly. “I’m such a mess.” “Hey, it’s okay.” Jackie consoled. “Listen, honeys, I have some wonderful toys next room, would you like to go there?” Jackie asked the twins. They nodded their heads and smiled expectantly at her. “Mom, can we go?” Angel asked as she tugged at the sleeve of her shirt. “Yes baby, you can go.” Jane smiled. “But behave yourselves okay?” “I will take care of her.” Aaron assured her. Jackie opened the door and motioned for the receptionist to bring the twins to the playhouse next door. Once the twins were safely brought there, she went back in. “There’s a teacher to look after them, you don’t have to worry about their safety.” Jackie said as she sat next to Jane. “I’m not.” Jane smiled. “I’m sorry, it’s just that a lot of things had been going on lately and I don’t know if I can go on like this.” Jackie frowned and placed a comforting hand on her arm, squeezing it a little. “What’s wrong? You know you can tell me.” “You’ve always been nice Jackie. I wish you didn’t push me away after Brian’s death.” Jane smiled. “I wish I hadn’t too, I missed you.” Jackie replied. “Did you ever tell Nick what happened to Brian?” “I never did, although I wish you’d tell me why you didn’t want me to.” Jane replied, holding back her tears. It had been awhile since someone mentioned Nick. Even the twins had stopped referring to everything that they do with their elder brother. “It’s a long story Jane.” Jackie smiled before continuing, “So, what is Nick up to lately? The last I heard, he helped win the trophy.” She didn’t want to, but she found herself taking that winding steps back to that evening. Nick scoring the winning goal and then watching by the stands, her son collapsing to the floor. It didn’t stop there. The steps brought her back to the night when she opened the front door to find two police officers telling her that her son was involved in an accident. It was supposed to be his birthday celebration. He had woke up with a slight fever and had spent the entire day in bed. Bob and her had felt guilty because they couldn’t do anything grand for him. He had told them that he did not want a birthday cake. Nick was eighteen and it was time that he had his own car. Being hardly with any financial stability, Bob had told her the night before that he wanted to hand over their family wagon to him while he would take the company’s truck that wait for workers at the junction not far from their neighbourhood. But Nick had got into that accident and he was never totally cured from the backaches. Nick may not have told them but they knew what was going on with their son’s life. He had gradually lost his appetite and the slightest work had got him tired. Jane was looking forward to the day when her son would bounce back to his normal self, dying the way he did at eighteen was something no parent had expected. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this but it’s been rather difficult to contact you these days,” Jane hinted playfully. Jackie had laugh softly and nodded her head. “but…Nick passed away a month ago.” “What?” Jackie gasped. “But…how…why?” “He…the doctors said he had Darla…and we sent him to the Home and he…he died…” Jane cried. Jackie pulled her into a hug, tears paving down her cheeks. The memories of being informed of her son’s death played in her mind. “Jane, believe me, I know how you feel right now.” “I didn’t even get to see him for the last time Jackie…he died alone…he knew no one there…” Jane sobbed. “I know honey, Brian died the same way too.” Jane pushed herself away from her friend. “What do you mean?” “You want to know what happen to Brian, I’m telling you now.” Jackie cried. “He had Darla too Jane. I sent him to the Home and he died there. I didn’t get to see him before he died, just like you.” *~* Something had been troubling him for awhile now. The same voice kept repeating itself in his head; he didn’t know what it meant then and no matter how he had defiantly tried to push the thoughts away, it stuck to him like a bad song. His heart was telling him that there was something more to it and that he should do something about it. The long passage way of the hospital was suffocating him with memories of his last visit there. If given a choice, he wouldn’t want to step in there again. But there are questions needed to be answered and if he had been paying attention to the right voice, he would get it there. He found the waiting area with no difficulties at all. It was rather busy, families were occupying the seats, waiting for news of their beloved ones. Taking a seat at the further corner, he reached out for a magazine and started reading. Some time soon, he will find him. He had to. *~* Every day, without fail, he would receive at least a call from the hospital. Another victim waiting to be transported. And every time, he had prayed that the call would be to the Nothern Ebay Home. Things had been looking up for quite some time. The last few weeks, all calls had required for him to send the victims to the one up north. But he knew very well that although things were smooth for him, other volunteers were bringing victims back home down south. “Hey Kev, good news for you.” Ashley, a volunteer, said as he approached him across the corridor at the Isolation level. “Yeah?” Kevin asked, raising an eyebrow. “The patient is a girl. You know what that means?” Ashley asked. “He’s yours.” Kevin replied. “Right. And the two boys next room, they’re going with Josh..” Ashley said. “Josh is gonna take them there?” Kevin asked as he watched the volunteer about to enter the room. “Yeah. Said you could do with a little rest. You’re free today man.” Ashley exclaimed. “I guess so.” Kevin nodded. “Poor girl though.” “I know.” Ashley frowned. “We just lost a girl two days ago.” “You know how it is right?” Kevin replied sadly. “I know…one comes one goes.” Ashley sighed. “Look, I’ve got to run man, see you later right?” Kevin nodded and watched as his friend entered the isolation room. From where he was standing, he could see the girl’s family crowding her bed. If they only knew the truth. He saw Josh coming out of the room and upon seeing him, he waited as the volunteer approached him. “I’m going north.” Josh said. “So I’ve heard.” Kevin replied. “Damn that fast mouth!” Josh groaned, glaring inside the girl’s room, knowing that Ashley was inside. “Hey, it’s not like he knows where you’re really heading to. When he told me that you said I need some down time, that just give it away man.” Kevin smirked. “Yeah well, if I didn’t ‘offer’ I wouldn’t be able to get the job done.” Josh shrugged. “So, you know what to do right?” Kevin asked, turning serious. “Yeah, considered it done.” Josh replied. “Eric would be expecting me right?” Kevin nodded. “I’ve told him you’re coming this time. You have exactly fifteen minutes, not a second more. You get the hell out of there after that no matter if you got it or not. Get that?” Josh rolled his eyes. “Yes Kevin, I know. Stop being so uptight, this place is too tense, we need to cheer up.” “Nobody’s perfect like you Josh.” Kevin joked. “I know.” Josh shrugged and smiled. “You know, sometimes I wish I were Ashley. Not knowing the truth is something I don’t really mind right now.” Kevin shook his head and snickered. “We’re doing something right, Josh. Doesn’t that count for anything?” “It does,” Josh sighed. “and that’s why I’m gonna get my hands on that thing no matter what.” “I have no doubt about you my man.” Kevin patted his shoulder encouragingly. “I’m out of here. Good luck.” Josh waved and walked back into the room, ready to get the boys. Kevin stepped into the elevator, his heart tensing as he realised he would be making his way back to the home. Mark, Brad and Nick would be having their sessions that day. They would be busy that night, considering the fact no one would be looking after Mark since he would be alone and even with Nick and Brad being looked after by their room mates, he had to be there. Brian wasn’t looking very well for the past few days even though he was free from session for almost four days and Howie had not been himself lately. And then there was the big ‘mission’ of how he would handle approaching the Mc Lean kid. He had done some homework on the young man and had even studied his daily schedules. He was pretty much a loner, often he would see him stopping by the park, feeding the ducks as his mind trailed off. From what Kevin had observed, AJ had not taken his best friend’s sudden death very well. The elevator opened too soon and he was already on the first floor. Passing by the waiting area, silently praying that none of them waiting down there had a relative with Darla, he walked away. But something caught his sight then that made him stopped. AJ was staring at him, as if calling for him to come. He sighed, wondering if he should approach the young man. He wasn’t even sure if AJ remembered him but the way he was looking at him, it was like as if he had been waiting. “Now is the best time than any other.” Kevin told himself and silently made his way through the crowd and found the seat next to AJ, empty. “How convenient.” “You’re Kevin Richardson right?” AJ asked. “That’s me.” Kevin replied. “What are you doing here AJ?” AJ frowned. He didn’t remember telling him his name. Their last meeting had been brief. He was there to take his best friend away from him. “How did you know my name?” “Nick told me.” Kevin replied. AJ nodded. “And again, why are you here?” “I’m looking for you.” AJ replied. “Me?” Kevin frowned. “Why?” “I kinda bumped into this guy at the Home where Nick was supposed to be and he told me to look for you. He said Nick wasn’t there, that I got the wrong Home. What’s that suppose to mean? I thought there’s only one home in Ebay.” Kevin frowned. “Who is this boy that you saw?” AJ shook his head. “I don’t know man…he didn’t tell me his name…he’s got blonde hair and blue eyes…he reminds me of Nick.” “Oh…” Kevin nodded in acknowledgement. “That’s Eric.” “Okay, thanks for the name, but you still haven’t tell me what’s up with that guy. He said Nick wasn’t there but we came back home with his ash that day. He died. Some Home you guys have…” AJ replied, a tinge of anger edged in his voice. “AJ, I’m sorry to pull you into this but we have no choice.” Kevin replied, his voice dropping a few notches. “First of all, Nick is not dead; and second, we need your help.” *~* “Carter, it’s time for your session, let’s go.” Dr. Kroeger said even before he stepped into the room. His footsteps and authoritative voice boomed loud and clear at the corridor. Howie watched his new friend as his name was being yelled. No matter how long he had been there, it never failed to make him flinch every time the voice boomed for him. And it was probably because of that, it had surprised him when Nick’s reaction was to sit up on his bed, placed the book that he had been reading on the side table and taking off his glasses, placed it on top of the paperback. It was a scene Howie and Brian would see often after that. Slipping his feet into his sandals, he got up from his bed with no difficulties at all and waited for the doctor to appear. There was fear in his eyes, that much Howie could tell, but if they hadn’t paid much attention to it, and just look at the calm surface of his face, they couldn’t tell. “Are you ready?” Dr. Kroeger asked. “We can never be ready for what we’ve to go through, but will that stop you?” Nick asked. Howie almost choked. No one had ever talk back to any of the doctors. He turned towards Brian, he too, was frowning at Nick. “No, it will not.” Dr. Kroeger replied, smiling. “Then, what’s the use in asking me right?” Nick replied, returning the smile. “You’re right Carter, next time, I won’t ask, I’ll just tell you to.” Dr. Kroeger smiled cynically. “By the way Littrell, you’re up too.” Brian froze. “He wasn’t scheduled for today, we saw the list!” Howie argued. “He was told to lay off the session for a week.” Nick added. “Change of plans. You’re coming with us Littrell.” Dr. Kroeger simply replied. “Don’t feel neglected Dorough, your time will come soon.” Howie ignored the sarcasm and watched helplessly as Brian slipped into his sandals and joined Nick. His movement wasn’t as smooth as Nick had been and it worried him a lot. Brian wasn’t at his best and it had been that way ever since his last session. He feared for his safety, the one thing they don’t need right then was another death in that room. But death wasn’t such a farfetched reality. “It’s okay guys, it’s all in the name of finding a cure right?” Brian faked a smile. Nick and Howie knew he didn’t mean it but it wouldn’t make any difference. “That’s the way Brian! If only all the kids here understand this just like you, my job will be easier.” Nick rolled his eyes when the doctor was too busy singing his instructions, walking down the familiar path that would eventually stop in front of one of the many ‘restricted area’ doors. They stopped at a door marked ‘Level 2’ and Brian was told to enter. Nick managed to caught the stare in his friend’s eyes. It was pure fear that dwelled in them, nothing else. He heard a stern voice calling out his friend’s name and the door slammed shut. Pushing his emotions aside, he continued to follow a few steps behind his torturer. They passed by a room marked ‘Level 3’ and he flinched as a shrilling scream came from there. He knew it belonged to a girl and it only made his heart ached more. The sudden image of Angel appeared across his eyes. He felt the stung in his eyes and sniffed, trying his best not to break down right there. There was nothing much to see as they walked on, it was a hollow pathway with nothing but walls on both sides. They finally stopped in front of the door marked ‘Level 4’ and before entering, he saw that next to the room was an exit route for emergency. He took note of that and entered to face his doom. It was the same room as the first session only that this time, he was alert enough to take note of the surroundings. His eyes immediately fixated on the metal table at the furthest end of the room. He would do anything as long as he didn’t have to lye there, but he knew nothing will help him now. A sudden push from the side caught him off guard. He was practically flung to the other end of the room; hitting a round metal table, instinctively he pulled at the white cloth for support, only to find that he was dragging down some apparatus and landing it on the floor, broken into pieces. He felt his head spin for a while and reaching a finger up to touch the bump, it came away with his blood. “You have got to learn that when you try to talk smart, good things never come out of it.” Dr. Kroger sneered as he took great pleasure in watching Nick struggled to stand on his feet again. When he was half way up, he approached the young man and grabbing him by a fistful of his hair, pulled him up and slammed his head against a cold table nearby. His excitement grew at the sound of the boy’s cries. “You’re trying to look cool in front of your friends Nick? Is that it?” Dr. Kroeger whispered harshly in his ears. “You’re going to die, face it Nick! Don’t make it any harder on yourself!” Nick had his eyes closed all the time, willing his mind to detach himself from the pain that was searing his body apart. He must have hit his back pretty badly because he could feel the strain of his muscle working against him now. He was pulled back to reality when he felt his body being yanked away from the table and his gaze met with a burly man he had never seen before. He stood on his feet, fighting with his every ounce of energy left not to fall. He stood there helpless as the man stripped him off his clothing, like the last session, he was left with his boxers on. He was pushed to the metal bed that he had dreaded so much and found Dr. Kroeger already fiddling with the buttons, never once acknowledging his appearance there. “Clean him up and get him ready, I’ll be back in a minute.” Dr. Kroeger said without even looking at the burly man. But that was enough an order for the man to start forcing him to lye back on the cold bed and he felt his rough hands handling the cut above his eyes. Too scared to do anything, Nick had closed his eyes and laid very still. The burn as he felt an odourless liquid being dabbed on the cut kept pulling him back to reality, to feel the pain that he desperately wanted to run away from. It seemed to take forever and it was getting painful to lye too still when his back was aching. “Are you done?” Dr. Kroeger’s voice filled the room again. The burly man replied a short ‘yes’ and left the room. Nick felt aware of his surroundings again. His mind fearing of what was to come. “Sit up.” Nick didn’t have to wait for a second reminder. He forced himself up and helplessly tried to hold in the sudden urge of throwing up everything he had eaten that morning. Not that he had a lot to eat, but the thought of what he would be ‘awarded’ with for throwing up at his torturer was enough to have him not show his stomach’s content. “I read your report Carter and it said you were in some road accident about a month before you were diagnosed with Darla.” Nick nodded, not daring to look at the doctor in the eyes. “It says you had a piece of rod pierced through from the back.” Nick didn’t move as the doctor walked behind him. Nick could feel his cruel eyes staring at him from the back, probably looking for the scar. “Lost a lot of blood, almost killed you, right?” Nick nodded, blinking the painful memory away. “Wish you had died then Nick?” Nick didn’t dare to reply. Fighting himself from loosing consciousness, he let out a startled gasp as a pain shot right up his spine. “You never did get over it, did you? Headaches, backaches…the hospital made a very fatal mistake that day Nick. They gave you a blood transfusion and the donor was infected with Darla. That was careless of them.” Nick froze. His life was a waste, because of a mistake. “But you see…in this home, we try to find cures for your ailments. Today Carter, is your lucky day.” Dr. Kroeger smiled as he made a full circle and stopped in front of Nick again. “We have something to take that pain away. You want that Nick?” Nick looked up, his gaze fell short at the doctor’s coat. He nodded nervously, fearing the man who was standing threateningly in front of him. “Sure you do. Be proud Nick, it has never been tested before.” *~* When Brian had entered the room, he didn’t made it to the bed and collapsed in the middle of the room. It was too late for Howie to come to his rescue and kneeling down next to his friend, found that he had lost consciousness. Somehow, in his weak state, Howie had managed to carry his friend back to his bed. Fifteen minutes later, as he was placing a towel on his friend’s forehead in hope to simmer down his sudden fever, Brian had woken up. As a memorised routine, Howie reached for the silver bowl under his bed and positioned it in between his friend’s legs. Not sooner had he placed the bowl, Brian had hurled into it. The entire procedure of watching someone throwing up, the smell, the sight of it had been a part of Howie. It took a lot to make him run away from such a situation. He massaged Brian’s neck as he continued to throw up painfully. It took Brian the next hour just to calm his nerves down and to finally stop throwing up and as he laid on his bed, having small talks with Howie, their roommate had yet to make his appearance. “What’s taking him this long?” Brian had groaned. “He’ll be back soon Brian, don’t get worked up.” Howie consoled. He might have look calm but the nerves that was brewing underneath was only his to know. Brian pushed himself and propped himself up right on the bed. “He didn’t get into Level one D, and he definitely didn’t get to Level two with me, it means he went to level three or four. I can’t even stand level two D and I’ve been here longer than him!” “Brian please, don’t worry yourself like this. We just have to wait okay?” “Where’s Kevin? Didn’t he know anything about this?” Brian asked. “He’s in Mark’s room.” Howie replied. Brian nodded in understanding. “At least we have each other Bri, I don’t know how Mark handled it alone.” Brian went quiet, drowned again in his own troubled thoughts. Howie stood up to stretch himself. His eyes dropped to the book and the pair of rimless glass lying on the side table next to Nick’s bed, waiting for its’ owner’s return. Tell No One. Howie’s gaze was torn away rudely by the sudden slamming of the door. Kevin had swung open the door with one huge force that it slammed against the wall behind it. The figure that he was half supporting against his weight made Howie rushed to him for aid. Nick was a mess. He was not covered in small spots of dried blood like the last session, in fact, other than the small cut above his eyes, he was free from open wound. But Nick had looked twice as pale as Brian if that was even possible to begin with. He was semi-conscious and looking at the tear-stricken face, he had went through a session that neither Brian nor Howie had been through. “What happened?” Brian asked worriedly from his bed. He had tried to get up but the drowsiness stopped him from doing so. “I have to do something drastic soon, they’re starting phase four.” Kevin said sternly as he placed Nick gently on the bed. The young man immediately turned side way and coiled himself into a cocoon. “Four? You mean…” “He was in level four. That place is restricted even for me!” Kevin whispered angrily, aware of the surrounding. “How are you by the way Brian?” “Same old stuff, I’m hanging.” Brian dismissed, still worrying on his friend. Howie wanted to throw something sarcastic at Brian. He was not ‘hanging’ and Kevin needed to know that. Not wanting to upset his friend any further, he decided that he would have to tell him another time when the opportunity strike. “What did he do to him Kev?” “I don’t know, he can’t even talk! Hell, he can’t even walk!” Kevin cried. Kevin’s anger left when he heard Nick groaned. He turned his attention back to the young blonde. Nick was coughing and it sounded dry and forced. Every small move that he made, Nick would winced in pain. Kevin felt lost, he had nothing to offer to ease the pain. Tearing his gaze away from the suffering man, he turned to face Howie again. “He was coughing blood when I got there. I don’t know how much more of those tests he’s gonna stand.” “He shouldn’t have talk back, I know this is gonna happen.” Brian sighed softly. “They let you in the room?” Howie asked. “No. He was in the nursing room.” Kevin replied. “On drip.” “How did you-” “Lisa told me.” Kevin cut in, knowing what Brian had intended to ask. He had decided not to tell anything further judging by how distraught Brian and Howie had reacted. Phase four was introduced at about the same time Nick was brought in. According to Lisa, Nick was the second patient brought to her attention who was sent to Level Four. The other patient was Jordon, a twenty-seven year old man who was under Josh’s care. Lisa had been a volunteer in the Home long before Kevin even knew the place exist. Like him, she was a runaway with no place to go. And just like him, she was manipulated into becoming a volunteer there. Now, they were caught in the deceit of lies and was forced into keeping the truth a secret. There were only two people whom Kevin trust with his secret. Lisa was one of them. Just like Kevin, Josh was asked to send a patient over to the Northern home by mistake and he had came back looking pale and troubled. Kevin had eventually found out the truth from him and knowing how his life would be in danger if Josh decided to report the matter to the very people who supported the secret, Kevin had led him in to their plan and trusted him with his life. “What do we do?” Howie asked, his concerned eyes never left his friend. Kevin sighed. Subconsciously, he started massaging his temple, feeling the soft pounding of an incoming headache. When he was called over to the nursing room, he was expecting to find Mark there since Lisa knew that the young man had no roommate to take care after him. But Mark, he learnt, had just went in to his ‘session’ fifteen minutes ago and wouldn’t be expected out for another hour. Nick was lying on his side, cuddled up like a foetus. One hand outstretched underneath, with an intravenous drip intact. The blanket was only raised to his waist level. He saw the cut above his eye first and even after realising that it had been tended to, found no comfort in knowing that he was hurt in ways he shouldn’t be. As he was told, Nick couldn’t tell her what was wrong with him, that he couldn’t talk. She had tried persuading him to lye on his back but he had refused. He’s in pain and I don’t know how exactly, she had told him. The next shock was to find out that the bed was stained with a small spot of blood. Lisa had told him then that he was coughing exactly that. “They didn’t let me have an X-ray of him so I can’t really tell you what’s wrong. Just check for any swelling in the next twenty-four hours and get back to me if he gets any worst.” “Isn’t there anything that you can give him?” “I don’t know what sorts of test he had been through Kevin, I can’t risk giving him anything that might make it any worse. I’ve given him glucose though, he should be okay. But like I’ve said before-” “You’re the first to know if he gets worse.” Nick didn’t even make a single noise when Kevin had reluctantly pulled him away from his rest. He was oblivious to his surroundings and for the first time, Kevin was actually relieved. Drawing his thoughts back into the solemn room, he said, “I’m afraid there’s nothing that we can do, D. Let’s just hope he will get better in the next hour.” *~* Life is unpredictable. You could live it to your old age, all the while blessed a happy and healthy life, and when suddenly you found out you were stricken with cancer or any deadly disease, you cursed your fate. You often ask yourself, have I been a bad person to deserve and suffer like this? But what happened to all those times when you were healthy and happy? Your entire life living those wonderful moment forgotten because of a setback in your older years. You begin to tell yourself that life is unfair. Is that really true? I was only eighteen when I had Darla, but that aside, I had lived those years with a roof under my head, a family who loves me and friends I could count on. It was a tragedy that I had my life turned upside down because of the carelessness of the hospital staffs. But I believe things happen for a reason. I believe that each and everyone of us who ended up in the Southern Ebay Home had a purpose to be there. Yes, most of us suffered and died but the sacrifices that we went through would eventually be paid. The pain that they made me went through lived with me to this day. Even now, I would find myself shiver involuntarily. I would be sitting and reading a book or just engaged in a tensed conversation and the shiver would hit me without warning. I remembered that night, as I lay in bed trying to hold on to the pain that refuse to go, I promised three things to myself. Not to have Kevin’s efforts go to waste. Be there for my brothers. Don’t die until we get the secret out. And having you watch this right now, you know I kept my promise. And I know why things happened the way it did.

ok that's it for now ladies, I'll be back soon with more chapters, hope you like! :)