Andy looked mortified. Ephram had spoken these words before in anger while yelling at Andy outside in front of the house when they first arrived in Everwood. He in turn yelled back, "I hate you too!" At that time, arguing outside in front of the house while Nina watched, didn't seem to mean anything at the time. Andy knew that it was just anger from both of them that caused the outburst. This was different. Ephram had more of a sincere look in his eyes.

"Why are you so angry Ephram?" Andy pleaded in a soft-spoken calm voice. "What have I done for you to hate me so much? I'm only trying to help and understand you."

Ephram looked up with tears in his eyes. "You just don't get it do you? You should have just left him alone."

"Who? Colin? Is this about Colin? He would have died anyway so the least I could do was try and preserve his life."

"No don't you see. This is all about you. You wanted to ride in like a knight in shinning armor so everyone would praise the Great Dr. Brown. Instead you made things worse."

"Ephram the damage was already there even before I started the surgery. I tried to counteract it but it was already too late. I had to at least try and reverse the deteriorating condition. It might have helped but I would have never known if I didn't at least go in and relief some of the pressure. It's a great loss but we have to face the fact that it was inevitable. It was going to happen."

Ephram smacked himself up side the head in frustration. "How the hell can you be a brain surgeon and still be so clueless? Don't you get it? The whole town would have grieved the death of Colin if he had died on his own and they would have accepted it and moved on. But he didn't die naturally. He died at your hands and that's how everyone will see it. You are now the cause of his death and this is a very unforgiving town. You aren't the only one who will suffer this wrath but Delia and I will suffer as well."

Andy shook his head in disagreement with his son. "No Ephram that's not true. Everyone understood the situation and the risk at hand. They were all expecting another miracle and they just have to face the fact that miracles don't happen all the time. This was Colin's fate and it just was his time to go."

"Oh please don't get all churchy on me. You don't believe in fate and destiny any more than I do."

"Your wrong Ephram. Maybe I didn't at one time but your mother's death has changed my thinking. She is the reason we are where we are today."

"Stop trying to be a traveling salesman. I'm not buying so stop trying to sell me. It's late, I feel like shit and I'm going to bed." He turned and headed for his bedroom.

"Yea well this conversation isn't over. We still need to discuss your choice of beverage on your bedroom floor."

Ephram yelled over his shoulder, "Give it up Dad."

Ephram had hoped that the morning wouldn't come but the sun rose at the appointed time just like clockwork. He managed to get out of bed and get himself ready for school without waking his father. He was already running behind schedule so he by-passed breakfast and headed straight for school. Nina managed to get Delia off without disturbing Andy as well. She figured that he deserved the rest from the previous traumatic day

The one thing about small towns was that news travels faster than the speed of lightning. Whether it was good or bad. When Ephram arrived at school it was as if an epidemic had broken out. Half the student population was missing and he didn't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out why.

The bell had already rung and he still needed to go to his locker. In the process of heading to his locker he was purposely shoved and shouldered but other students hurrying off to class. When he arrived at his first class the teacher badgered him about being late and told him to go to the office to get a late pass. As he walked back down the hall towards the office, he could feel the unwanted stares from students sitting in classrooms.

He walked into the office where talking seemed to have been silenced upon his presence. The Secretary in the office lowered her glasses and looked at Ephram. "Yes Mr. Brown what can I do for you?"

"Ms. Cummingham needs a late pass from me."

"And why were you tardy?" she said with bitterness in her voice.

"Because I didn't make it to class before the bell rang." he said with sarcasm.

"Are you being flippant with me? I don't take kindly to your attitude. This will be reported as an unexcused tardy and you will serve detention as a result. I will see you after school today." She proceeded to write a tardy slip for him to take to class.

The rest of the day didn't get much better. It was bad enough that the students were giving him the cold shoulder but the faculty too? One of the worst parts was when they made the announcement regarding the death of Colin and held a moment of silence in his behalf. After everyone had bowed there heads, closed there eyes and said a little self induced prayer, Ephram was rewarded with a piece of paper laying on the top of his desk that wasn't there previous. He opened the note and read the contents. YOU WILL PAY FOR THE DEATH OF COLIN.