father.
“But I didn’t help, did I? If your brother was okay, you wouldn’t be here. And if there were any other option, I’m sure that Confidence is the last place you would want to be right now.” She looked through me. I tried to swallow the thick ball of truth that clogged my throat. But there was no way to breathe.
I scooped up a forkful of the strange, frothy potatoes and shoved them in my mouth. I was done talking. Even Seven wouldn’t get a piece of Griffin.
Hell no. She didn’t get off that easy. None of the simples did.
“What happened back there?” I asked, motioning toward the bed that she’d almost collapsed beside.
“I wanted to tell you everything before my father barged in, and before…” using her spoon, she motioned toward my neck.
The collar itched. Easing my fingernails beneath the edge, I scratched until I found relief, looking like the dog it was meant for. I’d get used to it, but the material was cheap, which seemed uncharacteristic of Elect Anderson. I thought he went all out on everything...everything but pets, it seemed.
“I…I need to show you something in order to explain.” Bracing her hands on the edge of the table, Seven pushed her chair back, scooting its legs loudly across the wooden floor planks. She squared her shoulders and made her way across the floor to her dresser, where she eased open the top drawer and reached into the back of it, fishing around for something.
Her hand withdrew a piece of folded up, white paper. She opened the folds and scribbled something before folding it up again and nervously turning it over and over in her hands. When she sat back down, she smiled nervously tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Please don’t laugh at what I’m about to show you. I need your help, and I’ll need it fast.”
What was she talking about?
She unfolded the paper and smoothed it over the table’s surface, turned it around to face me and then pushed it in my direction.
I took control of it, scanning the page to see what she was talking about. On it was a list.
Go swimming.
Sleep under the stars
Go to a party
Dance with a guy
…in the rain
Make a mess
Have my first kiss
Drive a car
...really fast
Walk the perimeter of the wall
Go to the market
Drink alcohol
Get a tattoo
Blend in
Belly laugh
Hold someone’s hand
Give a random person a hug
Help Mitis
…and his friend
20. Leave the city
I looked up at her questioningly. She was fidgeting with her fork, a blush tinting her cheeks. Suddenly, she paled, and the fork clattered onto her plate. “Oh, no. Not now.” She ran toward the bathroom. The sound of her kneecaps hitting the tile floor had registered seconds before she started retching.
Even in her retreat, she’d managed almost to shut the door, but I pushed it open, gently easing myself inside the bathroom. “Get out,” she coughed before puking up more her dinner. “Please, Mitis. Please, just get out. I don’t want you to see me like this.” Her knuckles were white, gripping the toilet so hard, I thought she might break the porcelain.
“Too bad. I’m your companion.” I didn’t say it like a jerk this time. I wanted to help. The only thing I could do was pat her back and let her know I was there with her, right beside her. Her hair was already put up. The longer she was sick, the more violently she shook. But slowly, the sick spell passed, and she was completely wiped out.
With a trembling hand rubbing her forehead, she asked, “Mitis, can you help me up?”
She reached out for me, but I grabbed her waist and lifted her to her feet. She swayed, but caught hold of the porcelain pedestal sink.
“Can you get me another shirt and a cloth?”
I hesitated, scared to let go of her. She might faint again and bust her head on the toilet or tile. My fingers didn’t want to let her go. Somehow, she read my thoughts and managed to put my fears at ease. “I’m
“But I didn’t help, did I? If your brother was okay, you wouldn’t be here. And if there were any other option, I’m sure that Confidence is the last place you would want to be right now.” She looked through me. I tried to swallow the thick ball of truth that clogged my throat. But there was no way to breathe.
I scooped up a forkful of the strange, frothy potatoes and shoved them in my mouth. I was done talking. Even Seven wouldn’t get a piece of Griffin.
Hell no. She didn’t get off that easy. None of the simples did.
“What happened back there?” I asked, motioning toward the bed that she’d almost collapsed beside.
“I wanted to tell you everything before my father barged in, and before…” using her spoon, she motioned toward my neck.
The collar itched. Easing my fingernails beneath the edge, I scratched until I found relief, looking like the dog it was meant for. I’d get used to it, but the material was cheap, which seemed uncharacteristic of Elect Anderson. I thought he went all out on everything...everything but pets, it seemed.
“I…I need to show you something in order to explain.” Bracing her hands on the edge of the table, Seven pushed her chair back, scooting its legs loudly across the wooden floor planks. She squared her shoulders and made her way across the floor to her dresser, where she eased open the top drawer and reached into the back of it, fishing around for something.
Her hand withdrew a piece of folded up, white paper. She opened the folds and scribbled something before folding it up again and nervously turning it over and over in her hands. When she sat back down, she smiled nervously tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Please don’t laugh at what I’m about to show you. I need your help, and I’ll need it fast.”
What was she talking about?
She unfolded the paper and smoothed it over the table’s surface, turned it around to face me and then pushed it in my direction.
I took control of it, scanning the page to see what she was talking about. On it was a list.
Go swimming.
Sleep under the stars
Go to a party
Dance with a guy
…in the rain
Make a mess
Have my first kiss
Drive a car
...really fast
Walk the perimeter of the wall
Go to the market
Drink alcohol
Get a tattoo
Blend in
Belly laugh
Hold someone’s hand
Give a random person a hug
Help Mitis
…and his friend
20. Leave the city
I looked up at her questioningly. She was fidgeting with her fork, a blush tinting her cheeks. Suddenly, she paled, and the fork clattered onto her plate. “Oh, no. Not now.” She ran toward the bathroom. The sound of her kneecaps hitting the tile floor had registered seconds before she started retching.
Even in her retreat, she’d managed almost to shut the door, but I pushed it open, gently easing myself inside the bathroom. “Get out,” she coughed before puking up more her dinner. “Please, Mitis. Please, just get out. I don’t want you to see me like this.” Her knuckles were white, gripping the toilet so hard, I thought she might break the porcelain.
“Too bad. I’m your companion.” I didn’t say it like a jerk this time. I wanted to help. The only thing I could do was pat her back and let her know I was there with her, right beside her. Her hair was already put up. The longer she was sick, the more violently she shook. But slowly, the sick spell passed, and she was completely wiped out.
With a trembling hand rubbing her forehead, she asked, “Mitis, can you help me up?”
She reached out for me, but I grabbed her waist and lifted her to her feet. She swayed, but caught hold of the porcelain pedestal sink.
“Can you get me another shirt and a cloth?”
I hesitated, scared to let go of her. She might faint again and bust her head on the toilet or tile. My fingers didn’t want to let her go. Somehow, she read my thoughts and managed to put my fears at ease. “I’m
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