CHAPTER ONE
Miko re-read the doctor's report four times. She didn't understand. What could've gone wrong?
She looked up at her mother who was staring at her, shocked. She had opened the letter because Miko hadn't dared to. They all knew something was wrong. But this? It was just too much.
"Mum, I'm gonna go to the library, okay?" a voice echoed from behind. Nobody moved.
Hirosue's head popped into the kitchen "Mum, I said I'm – "
But he stopped all of a sudden to observe the tense atmosphere. He looked from his mother to Miko to the letter. Hirosue walked up to Miko and read the doctor's report over her shoulder.
"Lung cancer?" he muttered.
Miko, suddenly realising what was going around her, turned to face her older brother. Their eyes met and they stared into each other. Miko could feel tears rushing to her eyes, but she forced them back. No Miko, you can't be weak. Not in front of Hiro, at least. She and her brother had been closer than her relationship with her mother. And now, they were going to be pulled apart, and they would never see each other again.
"Hiro," she whispered and stretched out an arm to touch his. But before she could do so, he took a step back and reversed out of the kitchen, and into the hallway. The slamming of the front door could be heard followed by the revving of a car. It pulled out of the driveway and made a loud screeching noise.
Miko turned to look at her mother. Her eyes were glistening with tears and a few ran down her cheeks.
"How Miko? How?" she cried.
Miko walked over to her mother and placed a comforting arm around her.
"I don't know mum. I don't know."
But in Miko's heart, she had an idea of who it was. Then it became all too clear. Now she understood. The only name that came to her head …
… her boyfriend, Takahashi Ryosuke.