022 — THE REAL CULPRITS.

AMANI

“Okay, Aunt, how much have we lost?”

It’s been four hours since Bhyron was taken to the police station and I'm currently getting ready to be discharged from the hospital. Aunt Ophelia has been acting weird ever since. By weird, I mean she’s been sending me weird glances.

She heaves the one hundredth long sigh and I finally give in with an eye roll.

“Okay, Aunt. What’s wrong?”

She doesn’t even hesitate.

“Don’t you think you were too hasty to accuse Bhyron of causing the fire? You should’ve seen him yesterday. The man damn near lost his mind. He was genuinely worried about you.

Look, Amani, you know I’d always be on your side, but I really think you went too far this time.”

My heart twinges painfully. “Bhyron was worried about me?” I whisper in disbelief.

“Of course! If I didn’t see it with my own two eyes, I would never have believed it. He was scared to death. I think he really cares about you.”

I shake off the fireworks erupting in my chest and lift my chin, staring her down;