Twenty-Three Days Until I Disappear From This Family Chapter 09

Twenty-Three Days Until I Disappear From This Family Chapter 09

Year five.

The Far Northwest project completed its acceptance review a year and a half early.

Mila stood outside the base gate with the same backpack she’d arrived with. Five years ago: a change of clothes and an ID. Now: a laptop and three awards.

Sullivan pulled up beside her, rolled down the window.

“Sure you won’t renew?”

“I’ve decided. It’s time to go back.”

“I’ll drive you to the airport.”

Two hours through the desert, endless sand and mountains on both sides.

Sullivan talked the whole way-the cafeteria lady would miss you, don’t let anyone kill your cactus, who’d

maintain the core algorithm after you left.

Then he stopped.

After a long pause: “Mila… what are you planning to do?”

“Handle things back home first. Then I want to stay in academia. A few institutes have reached out-I’m looking at them.”

“So… will you come back to the Northwest?”

She turned and saw his knuckles white on the steering wheel. Sand seeped through the window cracks,

making a soft hiss.

“Yes,” she said. “This is my second home.”

Sullivan didn’t say anything else. But in the rearview mirror, she could see the corner of his mouth lift.

When her plane landed, it was late autumn.

Sycamore leaves covered the ground. The air smelled sweet.

Five years away. The city hadn’t changed much.

She didn’t go home. First she visited her advisor at the university. Then she checked into a budget hotel.

That evening, she walked into a diner.

Ordered spicy chili, extra hot. Steam rose, her nose started to sweat.

Halfway through, the door opened.

A girl with a ponytail, much thinner than before, dark circles under her eyes.

Sophie.

They recognized each other at the same moment.

Sophie’s tray hand was shaking. She stood there, lips quivering, and finally got one word out: “Mila.”

Mila set down her fork.

Five years. The girl who’d been the family’s princess, in pink floral dresses, now wore a faded T-shirt and frayed sneakers.

“You… moved out?” Sophie sat down cautiously across from her.

“So did you.”

Sophie lowered her head. “The day after you left, I moved out. I’ve been supporting myself these five years.

“I looked into what happened to my father. Everything Mr. Dawson said was true.

Tears dripped onto the table.

“Mila, I’m sorry.”

“I know I didn’t mean it, but the things you went through were real. I took what wasn’t mine-”

“Sophie.” Mila interrupted.

Her voice was as calm as the wind over the desert.

“You were a kid too. You didn’t have a choice either.”

Sophie bit her lip, shaking with sobs.

Mila handed her a tissue. “Your food’s getting cold. Eat first.”

They stayed at the diner till closing.

Sophie talked a lot.

Your mom had been diagnosed with depression, on medication ever since. Your brother had quit his job and searched for two years, then fallen into a dark place. Pierce had broken up-not with anyone specific, but

with everyone-and shut himself away.

“They’re all looking for you.”

Mila finished her bowl. “I know.”

So… are you going back?”

She didn’t answer.