Chapter 21

Daniel’s POV

The bright lights of the rehab place hummed. It was a big change from the sunny Miami outside. I watched Maya walk through the doors.

Her shoulders were a bit slumped, but she walked steady. I gave her a thumbs-up. I tried to look strong, but my stomach twisted. She looked back, a small, scared smile on her face. Then she was gone.

I stood there for a bit. The doors closed with a soft sound. My little sister. Always my little sister. Since Mom died, it was just us, suddenly I was the man of the house, even though I was still a kid. I remembered trying to make her breakfast, burning the toast, but she ate it anyway, smiling through the smoke. I remembered helping her with homework I barely understood. Tucking her in at night. Checking her fever. It was always me, making sure she was okay, trying to fill the big hole Mom left.

“Do you really think this time will be different, Danny?” Maya had asked me earlier. Her voice was small, her eyes o