Life Before Legend: Stories of the Criminal and the Prodigy (5 page)

“Everything good about me, I learned from you,” I whisper.

“You’re giving me too much credit. We got it from our parents.” Metias chuckles a
little. It’s a sad sound. There’s another long, ten-second pause before he goes on.
“You’ll find your tribe,” he says. “We all do. Someday, someone out there will see
you for the girl you really are. Someday, you’ll find someone who understands you.”

I take another sip of hot chocolate. “Well, I hope that happens sooner rather than
later. But it doesn’t really matter.” I finally smile at my brother. “At least
you
understand me.”

He raises an eyebrow again. “Sometimes.”

I laugh a little, and at least for tonight, everything is okay again.