We heave. I start to lose my grip and my feet slide. No, no! “Mom!” I shout as the bookcase groans and tips forward on us. This is all my fault. “Okay, we need reinforcements,” Mom realizes in a quick, panting breath. “Lo! Lo! LOREN HALE GET YOUR BUTT UP HERE!!” Her panicked words in a scream do the trick. Footsteps pound harder than my heart, and more than just my dad appears. “Jesus, Lily,” Dad says, fear encasing my mom’s name. He’s already racing into my bedroom, along with my brothers and Farrow.
