On Finding Chance

Part 1 - Chapter 6

Inside his room, Harvey keeps on tossing and turning. His guilt is killing him. Why can't he tell the truth to Madie? He knows she will hate him for hiding it from her - twice.

Harvey and Madie might have argued a lot about inconsequential things but they never lied to each other. Ever since they were kids, the two of them vowed to always tell each other the truth. Once when Harvey was around 10 years old, his sister was bullied by one of her classmates. She was teased as an adopted child because she does not look like her brother. The more she protested, the more they teased and every time she would end up crying in the washroom. She was good at keeping it a secret until Ethan saw her in the corridor with tears flowing from her eyes.

"Madie! Why are you crying? Who did this to you?" said Ethan.

Madie could not stop the tears from falling. She was starting to believe her classmates' lies. She was starting to believe that she is not her parents' daughter and Harvey is not her real brother. She could not say it. How could she utter those words?

Ethan tried to make her stop but he was also lost for words. He had no idea how to handle a girl crying in front of him. In the end, he decided to hand it over to the expert - Harvey.

He slowly held her hand and they walked towards the other side of the building. Madie followed him without any clue of what was going on. Finally, they stopped in front of Harvey's classroom. The teacher was discussing ratio and proportion when Ethan interrupted and asked for his best friend. The teacher was supposed to ask him but when she saw Madie crying, she immediately understood and let Harvey comfort his sister.

As soon as Harvey saw Madie, he hugged her, wiped her tears and waited for her to calm down.

"Are you ok? What happened?" he asked.

"They said you are not my brother", Madie said, sobbing.

"Huh? Who told you that?"

"My classmates. They said I am adopted."

"Hush. Hush. Don't believe them. I am your brother."

"But..why don't we look alike?"

"Ahhh..uhhh..I don't know either. Haha."

Madie was about to start crying again and Harvey rushed to find words.

"Look, even if we do not look alike, they always tell us that we have the same eyes and smile, right? Do not believe your classmates. They are only teasing you. Trust me. Ok? I never lied to you and I never will. Promise!"

She held out her pinky and said, "Promise?"

"Pinky promise", he repeats.

But he has already broken that twice.