Then she revealed a secret.
“I heard both of you crying when you thought I was asleep.
Gia, you prayed that you could take my place.
Leila, you wished you were the sick one because you thought you were stronger.”
I stopped breathing.
Neither of us had ever told anyone those thoughts.
“You were both wrong,” Nora said gently.
“Nobody should have taken my place.
You have lives to live.
You have to stay for me.”
The tape clicked softly.
Then came her final words.
“I loved you first.
I loved you last.
