Last night, a nurse entered the room and said, "You need to leave." I told her I wasn't going to leave my sister alone at the hospital.

She pointed at Nate and said. "What about him?"

I told her that he was going to stay as well and that I was the guardian of them after our parents died.

"I'm sorry about your parents. I'll get two cots for you both." She left the room, returned a couple of minutes later with two cots, and set them up in the room for us.

After setting up the cots, she left the room and closed the door.

The last thing on my mind before I fall asleep is that it's my turn to look after my siblings and provide for them just like Mom and Dad did. They did their best raising us, and they were the best parents.

I wish I had someone to lean on for help. But that's hard since both my parents' families are gone, and there's just my brother, sister, and I left in the Knight Family.

Closing my eyes, I fall asleep.

I'm standing in front of a mansion with my parents. It has a swing on the porch and a straw bassinet next to it.

When a baby starts crying, the older woman stands up. She picks up the baby and says soothing words. The baby starts crying.

Mom is the first person to walk up the stairs and approach the woman. "Hey, Mom. Thanks for looking after my son."

A smile spreads across the woman's face. "I would do anything for my daughter." She looks around, and then her eyes collide with mine. "Is that Chloe?"

"Yes, Mom. That's my daughter. Sorry, I didn't bring her over sooner. She's been busy with her father. You know how training is."

"That I do." She hands the baby over to Mom and walks into the house. Opening the door, she says. "Don't stand there, child. Come inside."

I follow her inside and see all this fancy stuff lying around the house. There's a box on the table in wrapping paper. "Is that for me?"

"Yes," she gives it to me. "Open it."

When I opened the present, I saw a beautiful gold necklace with a 'C'.

The dream moves to another one, and it feels real.

I was about six years old when my Grandfather gave me a gun. He showed me how to use it and said. "You're going to need to know all these skills because someday you're going to be the one to bring our family out of hiding.

I still don't know what he means by 'I will be the only family member to bring the rest of us out of hiding.' Why would they be hiding? What has my family gotten itself into?

At 7:30 a.m., the sun shines into the room, waking me. I see Nate stir and then open his eyes.

Nate yawns. He looks at the clock in the corner of the room. "I have to go to school." He climbs out of bed. "I don't want to miss another day. Can you write me a note?"

"Sure," I pull out a piece of paper and write a letter to the school explaining why I had the day off yesterday. Looking at him, I say, "I need you to come here after school. I have to look for a job."

"Okay, can I have some money for lunch?"

I pull money out of my wallet and give it to him. "Be back no later than 3:30 pm. I know you like to hang out with your mates once school lets out."

"Okay," He runs out of the room. "Bye, Chloe."

He better listen to me or get an earful when he returns.

Aleysa sits up. She looks at me and says. "I'm thirsty."

Moving over to the jug, I fill a cup with water and give it to her.

She takes it from me. "Thanks."

I smile at her, and I say, "You're welcome. What do you want to do today?"

She looks outside. "I wish I were out there with the sun soaking my skin and you reading me a story like we used to."

I touch her arm. "We'll do that when you have your energy back. I don't want you to fall out of the wheelchair. I could still read you a story." Moving over to the backpack, I pulled out a few books. "Which book do you want me to read?"

She points to Possum Magic. "I love that story. Mom used to read to me when I was in here the first time."

Mom and Dad repurchased the book when we visited Australia when I was five. It was one of my favourite books growing up.

Looking at the book and then at Aleysa. "I'm sorry I wasn't here when you needed me the first time."

She shakes her head. "It's not your fault. Mom and Dad wanted you to have a life. They wanted what was best for you."

I'm sick of everyone saying that. It's not what was best for anyone in this situation. Somebody should have told me about it.

Moving over to the bed, I lie next to her. "I know. Mom and Dad spoke to me a lot. They were proud of what I was doing with my life."

Aleysa wraps her arms around me. "They're still proud of you." She looks out the window. "Mom and Dad didn't deserve to go the way they did. We know that they would have preferred to be alive and watch you have a life. Get married when the time comes."

Shaking my head, I say. "That was the last thing I wanted in New York." Looking around the room. "But now I feel differently. Maybe it has to do with being back in LA and being around my family."

She looks at me. "You have to find a job. That way, you'll meet new people, and then you might meet your prince charming."

That's not going to happen.

I roll my eyes. "I'm too old to believe in fairy tales, sis. But, you can hope that it happens to me."

She smiles. "I want a new brother for Christmas."

Throwing my head back, I laugh. "The guy I marry will be your brother-in-law, and I can't get married before Christmas. That's impossible."

She pouts. "I might not live to see you get married."

I touch her face. "Please, don't think like that. You're going to survive this. You'll meet your Prince Charming and get married, too."

"I hope so." She touches the book. "Can you read the story now? I don't want to talk about the future."

Clearing my throat, I begin to read the story.

When I finished the story, I saw my sister fast asleep beside me, her arms wrapped around me. I close my eyes and fall asleep next to her.

At 9:30 a.m., I woke up and saw a doctor walk into the room. Shaking Aleysa, I whispered, "The Doctor is here."

She opens her eyes. "I don't want to have a needle put in me today."

The Doctor looks at her. "We're going to start your chemo today. The sooner we start, the better."

"For whom? Me? I've been through this before. I know how it works." She looks at the clear bag the Doctor has in his hand. "I'm going to get sick again like the first time I was on chemo."

Before I went to bed, I read the pamphlet, and it said that some side effects can happen when having chemo, one of them being vomiting.

That's one of the things that I can't stand. The smell of vomit and watching someone throw up will set me off gagging.

I hope that doesn't happen to Aleysa, though.

The doctor explained everything he was doing for my sister as he set up the IV. The machine the IV is hooked on starts making a noise, and he looks at me. "Every time this machine beeps, a nurse will turn it off. During the day, a nurse will test her temperature and ensure she's well enough to continue the treatment." He puts the needle into her arm and tapes it with clear tape. He walks out of the room.

Aleysa looks over at me. "I'm going back to sleep."

I kiss the top of her head. "I'll be here when you wake."

"Okay," she mumbles before closing her eyes.

Pulling my laptop out of my bag, I put earphones in my ears and watch a movie.

At 3:15 p.m., someone said, "I told you I had to go to the hospital. My sister isn't feeling well. She's got leukaemia, and I'm here to look after her while she looks for a job." Nate enters the room.

I look towards my brother and bring my index finger to my lips. "Shhh,"

Nate nods. He moves into the room with his friend beside him. "This is why I wasn't at school yesterday. It's also why I can't stay after school for practice."

Shit, I forgot he plays football and has to stay after school for practice.

"I'm going to call your coach and see if we can make some sort of arrangement to keep you playing for the season."

Nate smiles. "Really?"

"Yes, I can't have my brother kicked off the team because he can't attend practice while he helps me look after his sister. Can you give me his number, and I'll call him tomorrow?"

Nate gave me the coach's number, and I typed it into my phone.

Pick up my handbag, hold my hand out, and say, "Keys."

He gives me the keys. "Good luck with the job search."

Exiting the hospital, I got to the car and climbed inside. I put my handbag on the chair and started hitting the wheel. "I HATE THIS!" I yell into the empty car. Then I scream. Tears begin to fall on my face. Looking at the ground, I take a deep breath.

I need to get a job.

I turned the key in the ignition and drove away from the hospital.

I stop at a few cafes and ask to fill out application forms along the way. They gave me the forms, and I filled them out. I return them to the counter and then continue to drive. I take a wrong turn and end up in an alley. A fancy sign on the side of the building captures my attention, and it says, 'Lusive.'

I'll try this place.

After parking my car, I step out and reach the door. I pull the handle down, and the door springs open. I step inside and follow the dark hall into a room packed with people.

It's a nightclub.

The bar has wooden walls with pictures of football players hanging on them. One picture holds my attention the most: it is of a handsome man with dark hair, tanned skin, and brown eyes. Under the picture is a plaque with the name 'Jai Marshall' on it.

Moving to the bar, I look at the barman and wait for him to approach.

He moves over to me and says. "What can I get you, sweetheart?"

"Your boss?"

He shakes his head. "He doesn't like to be disturbed. If you want a drink, I'll take your order. If not, I'll have to ask you to leave."

Sitting on the red leather stool, I say. "Give me a J.D." I watch him pour it. "Give me a double shot."

He pours more into the glass. He places the glass in front of me.

Spinning the glass around a few times, I pick it up and drink it. I slam the glass on the bar. "Get me your boss. I need to see him." Looking around the room, I see cameras pointing at the bar.

He shakes his head. "I can't do that."

I point to the cameras and say, "Do you think he's watching right?"

The bartender doesn't say anything.

Standing on the bar, I take a lighter and put it under the sprinkler. As I'm about to flick the lighter, I hear someone yell.

"SEND THE GIRL UP."