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She opens her mouth, to possibly say it back, but someone knocks on my door "Come in"

"Aren’t you supposed to be at--" School dies on Dad’s lips as I glance over aze lands on Breanna, then jupen didn’t tell me you had company"

"He didn’t know Did I hear Rebecca?"

"Yeah"

I rest e her forward for the living room I kiss her temple and briefly close my eyes with the embrace This could be the last time I touch her "I need her to take Breanna home"

Breanna

RAZOR’S GOING TO tell his club The way he kissed me, the way he told me he lovedaway in the passenger side of Rebecca’s car--it was all there, the answer I didn’t want to hear The answer that is tearing us apart

Rebecca’s car idles at the end of the driveway and she waits like I’ the last few feet of my life Maybe I am Maybe when I enter the kitchen, my family will literally kill me, but when I round the corner, Mo

I slip in the back door to buy myself as much time as I can without Clara and Liao, I stood at the sink washing dishes--being the good little girl irl, the best friend, the one who follows every co a secret

A secret

I now have so many secrets that I’m buried alive--still in the box, still chained inside, and I’ back at me Are you ashamed of me?

What causes bile to slosh around in my stomach was the internal hesitation How come I never told my parents? Why didn’t I proudly hold his hand at school? Why wasn’t the love frohts and fears of everyone else?

Because I’ is the sa brown on the counter A stack of mismatched shoes in the corner near the door The same scene, another day, but I left this house one person last August and I’ed, and it’s time not to be afraid anymore

Across the kitchen on the island is ood little dog They’re convinced I’ll obey

Just like Clara expects me to forever keep her secret