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My mom always came back to me in flashes Sometimes I’d hear her voice, just a word or two Other ti the ether And now, as I kept at it, all I could think of was that conversation we’d had about this very thing, and her sain, "Maybe when you’re thirteen"

Eventually, I washed the razor off and threw it in the direction ofI didn’t think anyone else would want to use it now With blood running down s, I turned my attention to the nest on led for h it knot by knot, using more of the shampoo than I had ever

I’ht it out One minute I was fine, and the next it felt like my chest had collapsed in on itself I tried to take in a deep breath, but the air was too hot My hands found the wall’s white tile first, a second before the rest of h, fake stone floor of the shower, and pressedwater and overhead vent, which hid the sound ofinto pieces I didn’t want them to hear me like this, especially not Zu

It was stupid, so stupid I was sixteen--so what? So what, I hadn’t seen ain? It’s not like they remembered me anyway

I should have been happy that it was over, that I was out of that place But inside or out, I was alone, and I was beginning to wonder if I always had been, if I alould be The water pressure wavered, its te as someone in the next room over flushed the toilet It didn’t ainstknees and pressed down, but I couldn’t feel that, either

Cate had told me that I needed to divide my life into three acts and close the first two behind me--but how did soet?

There was a knock on the door Faint, almost tentative at first, but ht away

"Ruby?" I heard Liam’s voice call "You okay?"

I took a deep breath and reached back, hand feeling through the air for the faucet The water overhead faded to aat all

"Can you--uh--open the door? Just for a sec?" He sounded nervous enough to ht so had happened I reached for the towel and wrapped it aroundthe doorknob beforeto hitwhite socks in his hand, the third

He glanced around the bathroorim line The motel room was darker than it had been when I first walked in; we ht now So I couldn’t be sure, not in any real way, but I thought I caught a hint of color flooding the tips of his ears

"Is everything all right?" I whispered He stared atfrom the bathroom wash over him "Liam?"

The socks were thrust inI didn’t look as flabbergasted as I felt