She trembled, shaking as she tried to dial his number for the fourth time. Finally, she got it right, but it still took three tries until she successfully hit the ‘call’ button.

“Hey Babe, what’s going on?” She tried to speak, but her lips were anvils, and instead she broke into sobs. “Babe?” An incoming FaceTime popped up on her phone and she answered it habitually. “Hey, what’s going on? Are you okay?” He was a frenzy of questions once he saw her blood-covered face. His voice was laced with concern and his brows were drawn so close they almost touched.

“I-I killed someone,” she whispered through sobs.

He remained concerned, but a look of confusion now washed over his face. “What did you say?”

She tried to gather herself. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”

He narrowed his eyes at her, laughing nervously. “What do you mean you’ve killed someone?”

“I’m dead serious, babe. We need to get moving. Pack your bags.”

“Stop. If you killed someone, why would I go anywhere with you?”

“I’ll explain in the car.” She moved the phone with her—a completely different person than the crying girl a moment ago—as she washed her bloodied hands in the sink and began to throw clothes around her room into a ratty blue suitcase. The zipper was broken, but it was all she had right now.

“No, you won’t explain in the car. You’ll explain now if you want me to even continue talking to you.” He was angry now, and he was about to say more, but stopped. “Hold on, I’m getting another call—“

“No! Whatever you do, don’t pick it up!” She screamed, grabbing her phone.

“Why?”

“Because the person I killed was your brother.”