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Chapter One

“You need to breathe, Katelyn, otherwise you’re going to pass out and I sure as hell a your ass all the way to campus myself”

I bounced in the four-inch heels, which I’d borrowed froan and were a half size too s into my little toe

“What do you ht across the street” My order carabbed my soy latte

“It’s still too far to drag you” Megan took a sip of her coffee Her sun-kissed skin and platinum blond hair irl “You just need to take a deep breath…” Megan inhaled deeply and locked her brown eyes on h en calh my veins

“Good,” Megan said in a soothing voice she had picked up froa videos she forced me to watch—and participate in—with her

Despite rade, when Bridget Burgess pushedof insults directed at everything from my ratty clothes toan had stood up for e of seven, she had always been there, re her damnedest to keep me from the brink of a meltdown

“You’re going to be great today, Katelyn You’re one of the top students in the progra to love you”

“Thanks, Meg”

We stepped out into the busy don ChicagoThe cool Septeasoline and pastries fresh out of the oven This time of year, when red and yellow leaves blew past the skyscrapers like tiny flecks of paint, was my favorite

Megan held out her hand She kneasn’t a hugger People co into my personal space made me uneasy, no matter how much I trusted the lived for years withat me, I shied away from any physical contact

Reaching out, I took her hand She gave it a gentle squeeze “Reets too close, or you feel like you’re on the brink of a panic attack—”

“I know I need to breathe”

She nodded “And if that doesn’t work, you just give their face a high five and run”

I laughed Megan wasn’t the only person who knew about my past, but she was the only one are of how it affected me

“I’ll see you tonight Good luck!” Megan’s hand slid from mine and she walked toward my uncle’s real estate firm

We had graduated last suan noorked for my uncle, Tio for y Twoat the Children’s Hoed social worker

With every step, the clicking of my puot momentarily stuck in a crack in the pavement, I faltered One of these days I would have to learn to walk in these da drunk person

I ran a hand through —and continued my trek toward the university

Graduate school had been tough to get into, but when the opportunity to TA for the head of the sociology department opened up, I’d jumped at the chance

Clutching my coffee, I fished my cell phone out of my purse to check the time—