Cast Out, Then Called Back

fell apart was

r cake, for laughter, for the warmth of family. But the onl

as Lily, a seven-year-old girl with wide, innocent eyes and a story that could break your heart. She was an orphan, the daug

nor our parents' memory. They showered her

s of milk spilled on my laptop, the one containing years of my research, my application for

Ethan's voice was cold, a tone I

ly a whisper. My eyes were fixed on the

ind Ethan's legs. "She's mad a

ng. The sound of it cracking across my face echoed in the suddenly sile

ing finger at the door. His voice, usually so

eethed. "Don't

the stairs to my room, and packed a single bag. They probably thought I was

were

hey had always promised me, I was making other plans. While they enjoyed the ra

formal letter from Dr. Jensen, my mentor. Anna Miller had been accepted into a confidential, ten-y

no longer

was told, th

ered everything. A light snow was falling, dusting the world in a deceptive layer of p

" It wa

n, it

e. "Anna? What i

t. The familiar warmth was gone

tmas," I said, my words forming small clouds

est way to get their attention, a sad, pathetic

tone softening slightly at the mention of

t's

na," I heard him sa

the line. "Hi, Anna! Are yo

n the background. "Ethan, who is it?

flickered in my ch

an said, his voice hurrie

here, holding the cold receiver, listening to the dial