Pain tore through my head.
I jolted awake, clutching my temples as a groan escaped my throat.
“Hmm…”
I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping the pain would disappear.
It didn't.
Instead, it intensified until tears gathered in my eyes.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
I flinched.
“Louis!”
Jake's voice came from the other side of the door.
“Mom said you should come downstairs for dinner.”
“Okay,” I called back, forcing my voice to sound normal. “I'll be there in a minute.”
My head throbbed again.
I buried my face in my pillow, but the pressure only made it worse.
With a shaky breath, I pushed myself out of bed.
The moment I stood, something warm trickled beneath my nose.
I froze.
Blood.
“Not again.”
I stumbled toward the bathroom and gripped the sink.
I stared at my reflection.
My face looked pale. Too pale.
I turned on the tap and washed the blood away.
“This is the third time,” I whispered.
Three headaches.
Three attacks that had left me barely able to stand.
I splashed cold water over my face.
“I need to go to the hospital.”
I promised myself I would.
Tomorrow.
After school.
For now, I had to get downstairs before someone came looking for me.
I forced a smile onto my face and walked out.
The smell of Mom's cooking greeted me before I even reached the dining room.
Home.
That was what this place always felt like.
Warm. Loud. Chaotic.
Mom was busy arranging the food while Dad hovered beside her, pretending to help.
He suddenly leaned in and kissed her cheek.
“Stop it!” Mom protested, laughing as her cheeks turned pink. “The children are here.”
Dad only grinned.
“I'm allowed to kiss my wife.”
“Not in front of us,” Jake complained.
Jade rolled her eyes.
“I've told you both they're disgusting.”
I chuckled.
Some things never changed.
Bryan sat at the table with his laptop open, his fingers moving rapidly across the keyboard.
My eldest brother.
A detective.
Smart. Serious. Intimidating.
And unfortunately, obsessed with my grades.
The moment his eyes landed on me, I straightened.
“Finally,” he said.
I groaned.
“Don't start.”
“You haven't finished the book I gave you.”
“I was going to.”
“When?”
“Eventually.”
Bryan raised an eyebrow.
I immediately looked away.
See?
That was the problem with having a genius for an older brother.
He somehow always knew when I was lying.
Mom walked over and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Leave him alone, Bryan. Let him eat.”
“He won't improve if everyone keeps babying him.”
I frowned.
Everyone in my family seemed to have inherited a brilliant brain.
Everyone except me.
I was the last child.
The slow one.
The one Bryan was always comparing to other students.
Mom hated when he did that.
“Louis, sweetheart, come sit beside me.”
I hurried over and dropped into the chair next to her.
Dad immediately pointed at me.
“Hey, you.”
I looked at him innocently.
“Stop stealing my wife.”
I stuck my tongue out at him.
Dad gasped dramatically.
“Did you just stick your tongue out at me?”
I hid behind Mom.
“Will you all leave my baby alone?” she scolded.
“Favorite child,” Jake and Jade muttered together.
I grinned.
“Jealousy isn't attractive.”
They both groaned.
For a few minutes, everything was normal.
Mom served dinner. Dad complained that she had given me more food than everyone else. Jake and Jade argued over something completely ridiculous.
And I laughed.
Really laughed.
I wished I could freeze that moment.
Mom placed another spoonful of my favorite food onto my plate.
“This is for you, baby.”
I smiled.
“Thanks, Mom.”
After dinner, we cleared the table and gathered in the living room for what we called family time.
It was Mom's favorite part of the evening.
She had barely started one of her stories when Bryan interrupted.
“Louis.”
I glanced at him.
“Did you read the book?”
I nodded.
“Good.”
His eyes narrowed.
“I'll test you on it tomorrow after school.”
My smile disappeared.
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
I sighed.
“Do I really have to?”
“You do if you want to improve.”
He stood and walked away.
I watched him disappear down the hallway.
Then I rubbed my forehead.
A dull ache had returned.
“You just have to study,” Dad said beside me. “You know Bryan wants the best for you.”
I nodded.
But the thought of opening a book made my stomach twist.
My head already felt heavy.
Then the pain struck.
Hard.
I clenched my teeth.
Not here.
Not in front of them.
I forced myself to breathe normally.
“Louis?”
Mom's voice made me look up.
“Are you okay?”
I smiled.
“I'm fine. Just a little migraine.”
“You should rest.”
“Yeah. I think I'll call it a night.”
I stood.
My legs felt strangely weak.
I ignored it.
“Good night, baby,” Mom called.
“Good night.”
I walked away before anyone could see the smile disappear from my face.
The moment I reached my bedroom, I shut the door.
Then my knees gave out.
I slid down the wall and pressed both hands against my head.
The pain was unbearable.
I bit my lip to keep from crying.
Ring. Ring.
My phone vibrated beside me.
I grabbed it.
Blaine.
I answered.
“Hello, my dear friend,” he said cheerfully. “How are you doing?”
“I'm fine.”
Even to my own ears, my voice sounded weak.
“You don't sound fine.”
I forced a laugh.
“It's just a migraine.”
“You've been having those a lot lately.”
“I'll be okay.”
There was a pause.
Then Blaine sighed.
“Anyway, Blake told me about the birthday party. You're coming, right?”
I stared at the ceiling.
“I don't know.”
“You have to come.”
I smiled faintly.
“I'll see.”
“You'd better.”
He paused again.
“Or you could come to my house for a sleepover.”
I laughed.
“I would, but Mom would miss me.”
“Louis.”
“And who's going to wake Jake and Jade up for school?”
“You know those are just excuses.”
“Maybe.”
“Just take care of yourself, okay?”
“I will.”
“And forget about your brother for once.”
I chuckled.
“I can't. He's terrifying.”
“He's not terrifying.”
“You don't live with him.”
Blaine laughed.
“Fine. Sleep well, idiot.”
“You too. And don't make me come to your house and tear it down before your lazy ass wakes up.”
“Who sleeps like a pig? You do! The other day, if it weren't for your breathing, I would've thought you were dead. I tried waking you up and you wouldn't move.”
I laughed.
“Okay, no more talking. Good night.”
“Good night, Louis.”
The call ended.
I stared at my phone for a moment before placing it beside me.
Silence filled the room.
For the first time that night, there was no laughter.
No arguments.
No teasing.
Just the sound of my heartbeat...
and the relentless throbbing inside my skull.
I tried to stand.
The room spun.
My vision blurred.
I reached for the bed, but my legs gave way.
I hit the floor with a dull thud.
For a moment, I couldn't move.
I simply lay there, staring at the ceiling.
Eventually, I dragged myself onto the bed.
“I'll go to the hospital tomorrow,” I whispered.
I had to.
Something was wrong with me.
I just didn't know how wrong.
I closed my eyes.
Tomorrow, I'd find out.
At least, that's what I believed.
Because I didn't know that this would be the last night I went to sleep believing I had a tomorrow.
And I certainly didn't know that the smile I'd worn downstairs...
would be the last real smile I ever gave my family.