The Photo Said I Must Die novel · Chapter 22 of 24

Chapter 22: On Her Feet

I saw the whole picture from the old photograph laid out in front of me.

My sister sat sideways in the chair with her head tilted toward the water.

The white sundress had slipped off one shoulder.

The glass lay on its side in a spreading stain.

Across the table, Judd had come half up out of his seat, one hand stretched toward her.

It was the photograph, to the inch.

Nobody on the terrace moved.

The hand had never been reaching for me.

It had been reaching for Briana the entire time.

I thought of the blue ink on the back.

She does not get up.

"No," I said.

I came around the table so fast that my chair went over behind me.

Briana's eyes were half closed.

Her lips moved, and her chin had begun to sag against her collarbone.

"Briana. Briana, look at me."

"Dani," she breathed. "I'm so..."

"Don't talk. Stand up."

"I can't."

"You can."

I got my arms under hers.

She weighed far more than I expected, because she was no longer helping.

Judd had already got round to her other side.

He slid his arm behind her back, and we lifted together.

"On your feet," I said. "On your feet, or I swear to God I'll drop you in the sea."

"Dani..."

"I mean it. Walk."

Her heel scraped the boards.

Then the other one.

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