Page 11 (2/2)

But, lucky for everyone but ot better every time

The only probleain six to twelve months later

I was, of course, the last resort

But, that didn’t ot to live my life in between those times when my sister wasn’t considered sick

Nope, not me

I got to eat broccoli and asparagus I only got fruits that weren’t high in carbs

White bread was a no-go, and I only ate the healthiest rain rice

I had my first and only bite of cake at a birthday party I was invited to, but et a second bite in

That one had gotten rounded for two months

Not that it mattered

I didn’t have a life outside of my home anyway

I was the , in shape twelve-year-old on the planet

My parents made sure of it

15 years old

Everything hurt

But there would be no pain h, on the off chance that I became addicted to it

Those were my mother’s words, not mine

She watched over et addicted to anything when she chose each and every thing that went into my mouth

“Landry,”room and immediately put my ass on the couch “Go to your rooht now”

I looked around the room at my parents who’d walked in behind me

Not that they’d be staying

My o to her solarium while my father went to his office

There they’d spend the next couple hours working and or entertaining

“Would youthis off in Lina’s room on your way? She called and asked for a Happy Meal froery”

I sed h it hurt so bad that I could barely breathe

Each tiet worse and the recovery stretched out longer

The pain lasted for weeks on top of weeks instead of the short intervals that I’d had in the beginning

I was so young the first time that I underwent this procedure that I don’t remember the recovery—I just remembered pain

And that didn’t even begin to factor in the depression that took er

“Sure,” I croaked, grabbing the Happy Meal off the counter “Are you sure I won’t get germs on it?”

“Would youyour hands, and then putting it out on a clean plate?” my father asked as he passed on his way to his office