Love Letters for Joy by Melissa See

Author:Melissa See
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Natalie will be in the hospital for the next month.

Franny rarely leaves her side, and when she does, Daniel accompanies her home. Franny tells me that he kisses her each time they reach the front door. She’s whispering to me about how sweet he is when Mother and Father come into the living room. As usual, they haven’t been around much, so there’s a lot going on around here they don’t know about. “Hi,” I begin a little awkwardly as they curl up on the couch together, books in hand.

Father and Mother give me matching gentle smiles.

“Can I talk to you?” I ask, readjusting myself in the armchair.

“I’ll excuse myself,” Franny says, flitting out of the room.

“Of course.” Mother nods.

I fold my hands together and lean forward so that my elbows balance on my knees.

A few seconds of silence pass between us.

We’re not the best family when it comes to verbal communication. I come by it honestly, at least.

“I have something to tell you,” I say finally. After exhaling a slow, deep breath, I continue: “I know what specialty I want to go into.”

“You do?” Mother beams. She puts her hand over her mouth, her rings gleaming in the lights from our lamps and ceiling fan. “Oh, Nathaniel! That’s wonderful!”

“It’s a special day when a Wright realizes their future in medicine,” Father adds, grinning. I flush at their praise. “Well done. What have you decided?”

“Obstetrics and gynecology.”

They both drop their books.

The sound of them hitting the hardwood floor is sharp in my ears. But not nearly as sharp as the silence that follows. This silence is weighted; it’s pressing on my ears, seeping into my nose and down my throat until it reaches my rib cage.

It squeezes both my heart and lungs inside.

Please. Say something.

“Nathaniel.” Father clears his throat, readjusting himself on the couch. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re far too smart for that.”

“Why is it ridiculous?” I ask, willing my voice not to fade. “It’s a valid area of medicine.”

“Your father is right,” Mother adds gently. “You could become a neurosurgeon like him or a cardiothoracic surgeon like me or—”

“A plastic surgeon like Warren?” I finish. “Or a pediatric surgeon like Everett?”

My insides curdle when they nod.

“You don’t need to waste your time being an ob-gyn,” Mother chimes in.

“Waste my time?” I repeat, glaring at her. “Mother, did you forget what happened on Friday?” She looks away from me, her glassy gaze now focused on the windows. “I suppose that’s possible because you weren’t here. Neither of you are ever—”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence,” Father cuts in, getting to his feet. His glare matches mine. “And don’t you dare use that tone with your mother. Apologize to her immediately.”

“You want me to apologize to her?” I rise to my feet next, hit with the startling realization that I’m taller than my father now. “I don’t have anything to be sorry for.”

Father spits out a humorless laugh.

“You weren’t here to help Franny breathe through her contractions. To keep track of how far apart they were.

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