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She never cah for in with, created a wall of frustration and anger, solid as a brick barrier It took weeks and er and the resentment To this day, I’m not sure I ever really have

Disappoint everything down It makes me feel like I am the proble It’s always the same

I’d foolishly hoped that this oneof admiration, of respect…

Of love

Jenna toldto i here next to me in this cold, horrible hospital instead of Mia

But I can’t Instead, I only burn with hurt and rage I try to breathe through it so I can h these next few hours before I’, but I’ I can do is sit here and wish that Ada besidemy hand But reality is a cold harsh distance from that fantasy--as cold and harsh as this hospital rooer

Chapter 35

Jenna

It was just past lunchti a bite to eat, I poured a shot of tequila left over froht escapade and chased it with some juice

"Jenna--"

I jerked my hand up to stop Alex from whatever she was about to say

"No, Alejandra I don’t want to hear it"

I grabbed the bottle of Cuervo and took it into ical thought--I cal went into boxes The two suitcases would go with me, and I’d ask Alex to store a couple of boxes at her ive away…to friends, to charity, whoever As long as I could get rid of it all

Old things just brought back old memories--and I didn’t want any of those They hurt too much My heartbeat raced with fear and misery with each box I packed up, so I’d take another drink and continue, s

Fate was calling It was tiht, lass

I heard Papa’s voice in my head…"Budi hraba, kci" Youas he loadedwith my sister and my aunt We’d finally had the opportunity to pass safely through the warzone to Zagreb That day he’d pressed the tiara inme it would be safe inside the beautifully lacquered case Explaining howday, as her mother had before her "You’re a princess and you need to be kept safe I’ll see you soon Obecavam" I promise

He’d broken that proutters on a street alked down nearly every day oflife there