Emma Scott - A Five-Minute Life

A Five-Minute Life

2019 Emma Scott Books, LLC

Cover art by Melissa Panio-Petersen

Interior Formatting by That Formatting Lady, https://thatformattinglady.com

Proofreading by Proofingstyle.com

Editing by Suanne Laqueur, Meanest Editor Ever TM

No part of this eBook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places (such as Blue Ridge Sanitarium, Roanoke Memorial, Richmond General) events or incidents, medical procedures and medication, are fictitious or have been used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Actual television shows and music referenced are the sole property of their copyright entities and this author claims no ownership, creation, competition, or credit for such herein.

A NOTE ABOUT FOOTNOTES: There are two footnotes in one chapter of this book. The numbers to indicate the footnotes are clickable links. Clink on the number to take you to the footnote. Click on that same number on the footnote and it will take you back to where you were reading in the chapter.

Table of Contents

Playlist

Trampoline by SHAED ( opening credits )

Sweet Child O Mine by Guns N Roses

bury a friend by Billie Eilish

Bad Romance by Lady Gaga

Black by Pearl Jam

I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie

Dreamer by LP

Tidal Wave by Portugal. The Man

We Are Young by Fun. (feat. Janelle Mone)

BOOM by X Ambassadors

Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day

Beloved by Mumford & Sons

Times Like These by the Foo Fighters ( closing credits )

Dedication

For Melissa. You mean more to me than I can say because you are everything to Izzy too...

And to

My precious Talia. You light up the darkest of rooms

Part I

Prologue

Thea

Richmond, Virginia, two years ago

My sisters voice echoed up the stairs from the foyer.

Thea, lets go .

Coming, I shouted back from my old bedroom in my parents house.

Id turned it into a temporary art studio while I stayed for the summer, with a tarp on the floor and an oversized canvas on an easel by the window. Delia bitched Id only been home for three days and could I not make a mess of myself for her graduation? But not painting for three days was like asking me not to eat or breathe.

Behind me, I had Netflix running through episodes of The Office , the Worlds Best TV Show. Id seen every one a hundred times. Mom said I was probably obsessed with it because it was like me: funny and honest and prone to cringe-worthy jokes at the worst times. Guilty on all counts.

I brushed a lock of blond hair out of my eyes and wiped my hands on my linen smock. Purple and orange smears joined streaks of yellow and midnight blue. I used my fingers as well as brushes to manipulate the paint. Dad liked to tease I began finger painting as a toddler and never grew out of it.

The tarp shuffled under my bare feet as I stepped back to study the canvas. An Egyptian pyramid cast a dark shadow across gold desert sand as the sun set in swathes of twilight color.

My gaze jumped to the photo Id taken of the real deal on our family trip to Giza last summer. I didnt know what it was about those damn pyramidsor all of Egyptian history for that matterthat fascinated me so much, but I couldnt leave the subject alone. Tombs that huge were mind-boggling to me. The Egyptians packed the pyramids inner chambers with all the things the dead pharaoh would need for the next life.

As if they werent dead forever but just going away for a little while.

Like on a trip, I murmured.

Althea, get down here right now, Delia shouted. Were going to be late .

Its not possible to be late if you insist we leave three hours early! I shouted back.

I cocked my head at my work and a slow smile spread over my lips. I always let the painting decide when it was finished, and this one was done. Its colors and shapes evoked the majesty of the pyramid, the beauty of the desert, and the vastness of the sky above, exactly the way I wanted.

I took off my smock. Beneath it, I wore a silky pink dress that swirled around my knees. A quick inspection showed only a few spatters of paint at the hem.

Delias voice whipped up at me again. I know my graduation doesnt mean anything to you

Thea, dear, my mother called up, smoothly interjecting. Please come down now.

I gave my painting a final glance and grinned. Not too shabby, Hughes, I murmured.

Thea, I swear to God

Im coming , I said. I shut off the TV and bounded down the stairs. By all means, lets hurry, or else we wont be able to sit around and wait for hours.

My parentsSandra and Lindenwere smartly dressed, waiting with Delia, who was in her navy-blue graduation gown that she wore like a uniform. She smoothed an errant strand of her shoulder-length dark hair and gave me the stink-eye as I forced my feet into the low-heeled pumps she urged me to wear for the occasion.

Its my graduation and I say when we leave, Delia said. And what are you wearing ?

Heels, I said. But only because youre forcing me.

I meant your dress. Theres paint all over it.

Its only a few drops. Gives it character.

Delia rolled her eyes. Youre a mess. As usual. Im surprised you brushed your hair.

Its a Saturday, isnt it? I shot my dad a wink.

He winked back. Lets go, my dears. Its an hour drive, and if we leave now, well be He pretended to check his watch. Yes, quite early.

Delia sucked in a breath, switching on her infamous Business Mode.

I know you think Im crazy, but youll thank me when we dont have to hunt for parking. Its going to be crowded and I get anxious if we run late.

You? Anxious? I said. Get out of town.

God, can you take anything seriously for once in your life? Delia said, rounding on me. Stop with the jokes. And when the ceremony starts, you are not to cause a scene and embarrass me.

I blinked my eyes innocently. Whatever do you mean?

She gave me a Delia Death Glare. You know exactly what I mean. Nothing inappropriate.

Youre no fun.

Youre enough fun for the both of us.

Truth.

My big sister was the most by-the-book gal you could hope to meet whereas I lived for the moment. Dad liked to joke that he had to take Moms word that we were blood-related.

We have time for a few photos, Mom said, readying her cell phone. Squish together, girls. You too, Linden.

You gotta get in here, Mom, I said. Use my phone. It has a timer.

I bounced forward, opened the timer app in my phone and set it on the ledge across from our stairway. Then I bunched up with my favorite people in the world.

We have ten seconds, I said through a smile. Say cheese doodles.

The phone made a clicking sound. Mom took it off the shelf and checked the image.

Perfect. You both look beautiful. Her eyes filled as she turned the camera to our dad. Dont they look beautiful?

Dad nodded. He hugged Delia around the shoulders. Were so proud of you, sweetheart. He looked to me and shot me a wink. You too, sweet pea.

Twenty-one years old and he was still calling me sweet pea. I hoped hed never stop.

I slung an arm around Delia. Im proud of you too, sis. University of Virginias salutatorian. Youre kind of a big deal.

Thank you, Thea, Delia said with the warm smile she saved for special occasions. Then she cleared her throat. Business Mode. Can we please go now ?