Crazy, right? That’s my favorite thing to think about when I’m out here in the pine forest behind our house. Makes me think Mom spoke to me when she was dying, too. Makes me think, in the thirty seconds she held me on her chest before her heart stopped beating, she somehow gave me a lifetime of lessons.

I just wish I knew what they were.

Tell Me

CARLI

Cole came into my room this morning and I get to see Daddy today. That’s all.

REX

Yo! Once again my boy Cole comes through. He started to fall off for a minute. Hadn’t posted all week. But this morning, on my way to school, he’s making up for it—plenty! At the red light, I look down at my phone again and see he’s posted another picture of Carli. She’s riding in the backseat of their old-school Land Rover in a pink T-shirt with a rainbow. Underneath the rainbow the words Easy Like Sunday Morning are in gold, glittery letters. Man, easy is right. I swear it’s never been easier to look at someone’s face. And she’s smiling so big. I mean huge.

They’re on their way to Carli’s surgery and Cole gave up all the deets. Say what! It’s like he was personally giving them to me.

There’s only one problem. Well, actually four.

1. I’d have to skip school and I have a precalc test second period. Dude, I studied all night for that thing. I could make it up next week, but a weekend is a long time to forget things like:

2. I’d miss gym period, which is the mini-practice before tonight’s game. I need that time to make my 111 shots a day. Gotta keep the jump shot dropping! Plus, Coach Bell will wonder where I am. I don’t want to disappoint him again.

3. Carli’s surgery will be at Houston Methodist in the Medical Center, the same hospital where my father practices. Last time my father caught me skipping school (eighth grade, to try and stop this OG oak tree in the neighborhood from being chopped down by a builder), he didn’t say a single word to me for weeks.

4. I hate hospitals. Haven’t stepped foot in one since I was born. Every time I even drive by one, the world plops its fat ass right down on my chest, making it almost impossible to breathe.

But really, all these problems don’t have shit on the promise of Carli. All week she’s been glinting off the shiny parts still tucked inside of me. The pure and happy and hopeful parts, the parts starving for love. I’m telling you, it would kill me to miss this chance to see her. No question, all my shiny parts would go dull.

CARLI