"Peas?" Mom asked.

"Not that hungry."

She looked at me with sympathy. "Honey, you can't spend all your time wondering about your dad."

"I know!"

I didn't try to yell, but I was annoyed.

"I'm sorry," I instantly apologized. "I shouldn't have yelled."

"You've grown up so much." Mom smiled. "Do you want to see my new piece?"

"Yes!" I smiled.

My mom was the greatest artist ever.

"Come here."

We walked out back into the yard.

I gasped.

She had painted the back of the house.

"It's a sunset."

"Look closer."

It was the average sunset over the water picture, but with Hippocampi and Pegasi.

"That's amazing."

She laughed. "Are you going to go see Kayla tomorrow?"

Kayla was my best friend and next door neighbor. It annoyed me to not be able to tell her everything like I used to.

Also, no one except adults could call her Kayla without their heads getting ripped off. And that's only a slight exaggeration. Everyone who wanted to live called her Kay.

"Yeah, but for now I'm going to go to bed."

"Night, Sweetheart."

I went up to my bedroom and went over to my letter box. I wanted to find a particular one.

I pulled it out.

Dear Daddy,

I was wondering when you're gonna come home. I want to meet you. Mommy says you aren't coming back, but I think she's wrong. You are coming back, aren't you? I want you to come back soon. Pretty please with sprinkles on top come back soon.

-Love Keira

I had written that one when I was six. I remembered the day clearly.

"Mommy," I had asked, "when's Daddy coming home?"

Her face had dropped. "I don't think he is sweetie."

"Why not?"

"Here's an idea," She had said. "Why don't you try writing to him?"

"How would I send it to him?"

"You don't have to," She was smiling again. "Sometimes writing out your problems helps. Letters make sense even when the world doesn't."

"Okay!"

That was the first letter I had ever written. I was such an optimistic little kid.

I grabbed a walkie-talkie off my bedside.

"Kay, can you hear me?"

After a moment's pause, Kay replied, "Loud and clear, Keira. Good to have you back."

"It's good to be back, Kay. I hate that camp."

"Then why d'you go?"

"I have to."

"You mom makes you?"

"No. I just have to."

We had had this conversation a million times.

"Devin's coming over tomorrow, are you coming?"

"Sure."

Devin was a good friend I had made in the second grade. She and her twin brother Casey have been in my class every year since.

"Awesome. My mom made cookies."

"Cool. I'll talk to you in the morning, I'm exhausted."