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Then she dug her elbow into asped for air She swore again, fluently, and pulled the pillon over her face

"That was a terrible idea" I needed to throw up I needed a cold shower Maybe I would take a cold shower and throw up in the tub That sounded great, actually I staggered to my feet

She nodded I could tell because the pilloas ed h my hair "God Why?"

"Just--"

"Holmes--are you okay? Like, really, actually okay?" It was such a dumb question, but I couldn’t think of another way to ask it

"Don’t you think it’s sort of backward, that you’re the one always asking me that and not my family?"

"Honestly? All the time"

We stared at each other

"They think this sort of thing shouldn’t’ve happened to me at all," she whispered "Not to someone ascapable as me"

"This isn’t your fault," I said fiercely "God Has no one told you it’s not your fault? Of all the fucked-up families in all the world--"

"It was never said, as such It was iround "I know this isn’t your favorite subject, but have you thought about--"

"Talk therapy isn’t a panacea Neither are drugs Neither is wishing it away" When I glanced up at her, she earing a sad little sive roan, she pulled the pillon against her chest "Because, contrary to how I just reacted, I don’t actually want you to leave" She looked at ain I just want to go to sleep, and if I’ to each other the e norh toerly, I sat down "I still think that makes little to no sense"

"I’m fine with that" She yawned "It’s dawn, Watson Go to sleep"

I eased myself back in under the covers, careful to leave a few inches between the two of us Leave rooht semihysterically I hadn’t been to church since I was a kid, butthe space between us?"

"No, I--"

"It’s not funny," she said but it was dawn, and ere exhausted, and I could tell she was trying not to laugh