So I hesitated on purpose, starting to speak and then stopping, until I caught my father's attention.
He frowned and snapped at me. "Spit it out! If you've got something to say, say it!"
I took a deep breath.
"The test results came back."
"Laurel... has been diagnosed with leukemia. The doctor says she needs a bone marrow transplant."
The chopsticks in my parents' hands froze mid-air.
Disbelief flooded both their faces. "That's impossible! How could that be? How could your sister be sick? And with that disease?"
"Is it serious? Does it cost a lot? What even is a bone marrow transplant?"
The smile on my sister's face vanished, replaced instantly by raw fear.
She spent every day either at work or sprawled on the couch watching TV. She never exercised. Her complexion was already paler than most people's.
Now, hearing she had a serious illness, every inch of her body suddenly felt wrong.
Her lips trembled. "Lily, you're making this up. How could I possibly be sick?"
"There's no way. There's absolutely no way!"
"I didn't want to keep it from you," I said, "but it's the truth."
"If you don't believe me, see for yourself."