Page 62 (2/2)

Don’t worry abouther phone, she poured a glass of uilt that burnedup her throat And then she grabbed her mom’s car keys and rushed out the front door

Violet felt strange sitting in Dr Lee’s office without an appointrown-up protocol Fortunately for her, no one really considered her a grown-up yet

Nervously tapping her foot, she listened to the nized it as the sa room Dull was the operative word for his ht, but she assuround noiseprobablyand unremarkable

When Dr Lee opened the door to his office, Violet juathered at the bridge of his nose "Violet? What are you doing here? We didn’t have an appoint I could, um, talk to you for a few minutes"

He examined her face, the way everyone did now, and she tried not to bristle beneath the scrutiny It was natural, she supposed, that kind of curiosity "I’m sure I could spare some ti her inside But once the door closed behind the his usual seat, hesympathetically "I heard about what happened, but this is" He took a breath, screwing on his shrink face again "Well, it’s hard to look at"

"It’s better than it looks" The words had beco everyone she was okay But then she shook her head as she dropped onto the leather couch, a spot she’d always purposely avoided, deciding this wasn’t the time for false assurances And the truth was, pretty ht now When she opened her other eyes as her words tumbled over one another Dr Lee passed her a tissue "I don’t blame them, really Look at me If I were them, I’d probably blame Sara too But it wasn’t her fault" She blew her nose

Dr Lee waited, crossing his legs

"But the thing is, I’oodor at least I try to be But this tied up" She let out a watery laugh "Okay, a lot banged up But I just don’t think I can quit the teas but remained silent

Violet didn’t pause "I need them When I’m with themit’s the only time I don’t feel like some sort offreak"

"Freak" He repeated the word--her word--letting it linger between the her hands fall into her lap, her fingers clutching the tissue "When I’m with them, I feel likeI’ed "Gets me"