Page 10

"She's coming to. We may need to keep her…"

"Keep her? Here? No! I'm taking her with me," a voice gets increasingly heated.

I move a little, finding it hard to get my limbs to react. I feel the muscles of my face, stiff and sore, and I try to open my eyes.

"Sisi," Lina rushes to my side. "Good Lord, what happened to you," she whispers, tears in her eyes.

Her hands are all over my face, my body, her touch tender and affectionate.

"Lina," I croak, finding it hard to speak.

"No, don't talk. I got you," she says, her warm hands caressing my hair.

"Catalina, I'm not sure…"

"Sister Maria, Sisi is my friend, and I can take care of her. She's coming back with me." Lina's voice has a confident quality to it I'd never heard before.

I try to raise myself up, but she's quickly back at my side, taking me in her arms and hugging me to her chest.

"Lord, Sisi, what happened?"

"I'm fine," I manage to get out, although I'm not sure how long I was in that coffin.

"How did you…" I trail off, my strength limited.

"The sisters on gardening duty heard you scream. I can't believe you were locked in there… Sisi." She shakes her head at me, worry in her gaze.

"I'm fine. It was just a game," I lie, because I've learned my lesson when it comes to telling on the other girls.

No. No one can help me but myself.

And that's exactly what I'm going to do.

"A game? But…"

"Can we go back?" I ask, hoping she'll drop the subject. I don't want her to know what has happened to me, just as much as I don't want her to know what I will do from now on.

I've tasted enough human cruelty to last me a lifetime.

It's time I gave some back.

3

SISI

AGE FIFTEEN

Tying the garland at the end, I use some of the flowers to hide the uneven formation. Turning to Claudia, I lower it over her head, watching with satisfaction as a smile spreads over her face. Her hands go up and she starts feeling for the flowers.

"Wow," she breathes out, her eyes wide in wonder.

"You like it?"

"Like? I love it! Thank you, Aunt Sisi!" She lunges at me, almost throwing me off balance. I open my arms to return her hug.

"See, I'm good at some things too," I add a little drily, and Claudia chuckles.

It's a running joke among Claudia, Lina and I that I never do anything right. Granted, I rarely put in the effort, but they are right to laugh at me when I fail at even the most basic things.