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And that’s when I find it Mashed behind a bunch of shirts is a hard wooden box I pull it out, the sweet s up froar box It was his father’s, or so Avery said I briefly wonder how she knows so much about Jack when they don’t speak at all They obviously knew each other in the past, but hoell? Probably very well

Whatever he did iveable, if Avery and Wren are so afraid of hiht out for the millionth tied letters, each on the saes I take the tophtly to check the date to make sure it’s the most recent It is I shove the box back behind the shirts and hesitate before closing the drawer Who even writes letters in this day and age? It’s so old fashioned and, as much as I hate to ad froht here, waiting for me to read her words It would be so easy to just pry the letter open a little Just one sentence One sentence never killed anybody Except it has, probably, somewhere down the line of thousands of years of huonna stop irly

Dear Jack,

Can you believe it’s October already? I put up a string of orange Christhts and paper bats over my bed You’ll see it when you cowe’ll carve a puive it a fu i Or I’ll make it Hello Kitty Which do you think would scarewell! Dr Fenwall thinks I’ll be well enough for a day out after o soed you to the carnival last ti me wherever you want and I won’t co But only whencute I want ;)

She really is sick But she sounds so cheerful and sweet, I can’t help but like her already And Jack at a carnival? I can only ilares whenever soa toss And on the ferris wheel? I scoff He’d be bored the whole way through He’s a party pooper like that But even still, Sophia seems to really like hi down lately and working extra hard for me, but don’t worry Dr Fenwall says he’s talked with the billing departrant just for people like me So, it’s okay if you don’t work for a while I’ll apply to it, and I know I’ll get it That way you can just relax and have fun instead of worrying all the ti? Is that why…is that why he works as an escort? To pay her hospital bills? Can’t her parents pay them? Does she have parents at all?

Anyway, I’irl Isis, you said her name was? I know, I know, you hate her and you can’t see why hearing about her s around inabout me!

But Jack, really When was the last time someone affected you like this? You never talk about your classmates She’s the first one you’ve mentioned to me She must have made quite the impact on you She sounds like so much fun I’m so, so happy you’veyour butt, and you better step up if you want to win!

That’s why I’ainst, and I kno happy that makes you, in a weird, competitive, perverse way You always used to complain about how everyone at your school was so stupid and boring You don’t have ive you a run for your ht pique your interest enough for you to become friends Well! There she is! You can thank me later You’ll let me meet her, won’t you? I’d really like that

Anyway, I better finish this and send it off Nurse Brown poked her head intoHeehee

I love you like a brother, Jack You know that I miss you every day You know that too

Yours,

Sophia

I close the letter and wince I feel like I’ve violated so it now that I’ve finished it I have to get back downstairs and leave Holding this thing inpool insecond