Silent Genius

Epilogue

Epilogue

June 2011

My bags are packed in the back of the taxi. Dad, Tom, Tyler and Claire are all standing in the driveway. Laffita is here too. I know I’m going to miss them and that they’ll miss me. But it will be worth it in the end. I’ll visit over the spring and Christmas holidays. Then, next year, Tom and Tyler will fly back with me. We’ll all live together in Sydney.

Dad is trying to hold back tears. Claire and Laffita are openly weeping. Tom smiles gently and Tyler is doing all he can to stop from hugging me and never letting go.

‘I’ll miss you, baby girl,’ Dad says and hugs me.

I can feel the tears slipping down my cheeks. But I don’t wipe them away.

‘Show them how it’s done,’ Tom hugs me.

‘I’ll call you every day,’ Tyler says, kissing me hard.

‘Do me and my school proud,’ Laffita whispers.

She hugs me too. Then, I kneel in front of Claire. She wipes the tears from my cheeks and hers. She wraps her arms around my neck, balling up my hair in her fists.

‘I’m going to miss you so much, Claire Bear,’ I whisper through my sobs.

Then, I hear a little whisper.

‘I love you, Tanna,’ Claire says softly.