Divided

I felt his hand rest on my shoulder. “People were just desperate, and they wanted to blame
someone. But your father is right about something, the walls do protect us. Will they protect us
forever? I don’t know. Look, I get that you’re scared and that Travis was scared, but we are
stronger when we stay together.”
It sounded good, and yet a piece of me couldn’t escape the thought of how his house was never
marked, of how his house would never be marked.
I stared back at my reflection. “I guess… I just keep thinking about things I can’t change; things
Natasha and Uncle Travis can’t change.”
Wes’s gaze dropped to his lap, dark waves falling over his forehead. “When I look at you, I don’t
see color.”
But my skin color was the thing that was adding a target on my back, not to mention my
premonitions.
Yet knowing that I couldn’t get Wes to fully understand, I simply grinned. My shoulder bumped
his until he met my gaze. Repeating his own words, I said, “I know you’re not that naive.”
Wes shook his head, his eyes sad. “You should talk to Derrick.” And before I could argue his
hand grabbed mine again. “I’m not saying this because I think you’re wrong. I’m telling you this
because he’s your brother, he lives in this house, and you need support when I’m not here. I
don’t want you wallowing in these thoughts.”
Taking a deep breath, I wondered if it was possible for Derrick to really hear me for once. “And if
he won’t listen?”
“You’re smart, Cassie. Find a voice he can’t ignore.”
9 | P a g e