She stared at him with what looked like gratefulness and hurt combined.

Gabriel cleared his throat. “Why are you going to die early?”

“Heart problem.”

“Oh.” He didn’t want to make her talk about because she had a problem saying it.

After a few days the hospital let Gabriel go home. Renee was told she could go home the next day. When Renee got home she wasn’t happy. Her step-dad was still there because her mother had talked to the cops and said that Renee made everything up. “She’s just a clumsy child,” she had said.

The next day at school Gabriel ran up to Renee. “Hey! How are you today?”

“Fine.”

“You’re lying.”

“Okay, awful. I’m worse than ever. She lied! To the cops! Am I clumsy? Do you ever see me fall down?”

“No. What are you talking about? And you’re the most graceful person i know.”

“My mom told the cops I was lying. Me. I’ve never lied in my life! Why is he more important to her than me?”

“If you want you can stay at my house.”

“No. I’m not running away.”