Page 129 of Creeping Beautiful

Five. You are fifteen and the Company has fallen. But they didn’t get you. You were with us.

…

Four. You are sixteen. You and Nathan are closer now. More than just friends. He holds your hand in the woods and you like that. He makes you feel special. All your jobs are much easier now. You do them well and you make your own money.

…

Three. You are seventeen. Your jobs take you far away sometimes. And you might even leave for weeks or months. But you always succeed and when you get home, we are always here for you. You bought yourself a truck and have more freedom because we trust you.

…

Two. You are eighteen. Maggie is born. The birth was hard for you. It took fourteen hours but when it was over, you forgot all the bad things and only thought about the good. You are very happy, even though Nathan went away to college, because you still have us.

…

One. You are nineteen and Maggie is one. You are happy and so is your daughter. Adam can’t put her down and McKay is constantly shopping for educational toys on the internet.

…

OK. Indie. We’re here. Your twentieth birthday. You were keeping some secrets that day. Secrets about Nathan. Do you remember who Nathan is?

Why are we here again?

You know why we’re here, Indie.

No. But why this birthday? I don’t want to—

Indie. This is where all your problems started. We have to go back and see it more clearly. So you can deal with it and—

No, it’s not. They didn’t start here. They started back when I was fifteen. When Angelica left me.

…

Uh… I know I’m not supposed to say anything, but—

It’s OK now. She’s under. But be quick.

Is this going the way you thought?

Not exactly.

I know we just started, but what the hell happened at fifteen that we missed?

Let’s just keep going, McKay. This might be important. Indie, can you still hear me?

Yes.

Good. What problems did you have after Angelica left you?

Well… when she left, he didn’t.

Shh. McKay. Let me do this. Indie. Who didn’t leave? Are you referring to me, and McKay, and Adam?

No. The other one.

What other one?

The big one. With the dark hair and dark eyes.