I moved into the house across from you, thinking that would make it easier, but it just made it worse. I kept this apartment as a haven, a place where I could keep all of this safe. I planned to show it to you one day, but I think I’ll need to have Jasper lead you to it instead.
“There’s more,” the officer said softly.
I didn’t want you to remember the day they took you away.
He pulled out medical files and hospice intake forms dated the very day Daniel had asked me to watch Jasper.
“He isn’t missing,” I realized.
“No, ma’am,” the officer said. “He checked himself into end-of-life care.”
I looked back at the walls. I saw the photos again, but the context had shifted.
These were shots from public places. He was at the back of the crowd at the street fair. He was across the street in the park. He hadn’t been stalking a victim — he’d been watching his sister.
“He checked himself into end-of-life care.”
The neighbor woman called from the door. “Wait, so you’re Daniel’s sister?”
“Daniel’s sister?” Someone asked behind her. “He always said he wanted to find her!”
“I am,” I said. “And he did find me.”
I didn’t wait for the police to finish their report. I gathered the documents and the letter.
I had to get to that facility.
The care home was quiet. I walked up to the desk with my heart thumping against my ribs.
I had to get to that facility.
The receptionist checked her computer after I asked about Daniel. “May I ask your relationship to him?”
“I’m… his sister.” I placed the documents on the counter. “Please, I need to see him.”
She looked at the papers, then back at my tear-stained face.
“He mentioned you this morning. Just before he slipped into a deep sleep.”
A nurse led me to Daniel’s room.
I pulled a chair to the side of the bed and took his hand. “Daniel, it’s Anna. I’m here.”
“He slipped into a deep sleep.”
His fingers twitched against mine. His eyes opened. “Annie?”
“I’m here. I didn’t know about you. They never told me.”
He smiled weakly. “I wanted to tell you, but I was so scared you’d reject me. Every time I tried to speak to you, I just… I got so nervous I couldn’t speak. I figured… I figured I’d let Jasper tell you, eventually. I know it was cowardly… I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. All that matters is that we found each other.”
The nurse came in with a clipboard. “We need a signature for next-of-kin authorization. For his comfort care.”
I looked at Daniel. He nodded. I took the pen and signed my name.
For the first time in my life, I wasn’t just an only child. I was someone’s protector. I was family.
“All that matters is that we found each other.”