Rowan was wrapped in a heavy, warm blanket as he sat in the back of an ambulance with a family member he didn’t recognize. Maybe a distant aunt.

    “No sign of him yet! Let’s keep moving!” Someone called out from the dispatched workers. 

    They dived into the lake searching for Liam. Rowan felt like he could hardly breathe. He still heard the scream of his brother as he fell into the lake. Or was it his imagination? Maybe his brother never screamed at all. Maybe it was his own scream that echoed through his mind. Suddenly, he was losing bits and pieces of the accident. He shook his head: 

    Was Liam okay? 

    Rowan’s thoughts were cut off as the relative started speaking to him, “What on earth happened to cause this? You called out to him? As the branch was falling! You—” She paused, “You should learn to keep your mouth shut. All this happened because you had Liam come for you. What if he—“ She stopped again, this time turning her head away, biting her lip to keep the tears away. 

    “Because I called out to him? Was that why he fell?” The boy spoke timidly. He felt he knew the answer already, but the relative didn’t speak. Rowan lowered his head and said quietly, “If I didn’t say anything, or if he hadn’t come after me, would Liam be here right now?” 

    “I—I don’t know. Maybe,” she replied.