Page 146 - My FlipBook

L IS A J. L A W R E N C E

Patty. Gone. Money. Jobs. Alice. Cancer. Elgin. Dylan. Rachel.
Cabin. Water fountain. She lay flat on her back and felt it press
her body into the sagging air mattress, struggling for air.
“I’m not going to school anymore, Ash.” No point in this
pretense.
He twitched like he’d been shocked. “What are you
talking about? We graduate in four months.”
“I’m done.” Every word she spoke carried weight off

her body. To give in to those words, concede, walk away—
that allowed her to breathe. She actually felt happy. No,
elated.
“Why are you saying this?” Ash’s voice tightened.
“I’ll get a job. You go to school. I’ll finish at some point,
maybe in the fall.” Dylan, Rachel and Matt would’ve gradu-
ated and moved on by then. It was a small price—practically ADVANCE READING COPY

nothing.
Ash looked down on her, his eyes just sockets in the dark
room. “I’m not leaving here without you.”
Her gut clenched. Could she make that decision for him
too? Was he bluffing? “Okay. That’s your call.”
He stood beside her for another minute before walking
out and slamming the door behind him, probably waking
Elgin. After the vibration settled, she padded to the kitchen.
Sunrise glowed over Elgin’s garden boxes in the backyard,

rounded in snow. She made two pieces of toast, a fried egg
and a cup of tea, then pulled over a kitchen chair to face the
window above the sink. The mug warmed her hands as she
watched the orange and pink burn away the deep blue of night.

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