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"Don’t overthink this," I tell her

"I’ll think about it"

I chuckle and Haley s out the irony of her statement

"Thanks for the place to crash, Haley"

"You’re welcome" Then she disappears down the stairs

A few hours later, I loiter down the aisle of the grocery store, buying time until Denny opens the bar and I can earn money It’s noon and I won’t train with Haley until the evening I used to love Saturdays; now I hate free time

Abby passes my aisle, then jerks back and heads in one bad and you need protection?" Why else would she need me?

Her hazel eyes bore into "

I don’t wait on the elevator; instead I fly up the stairs Two at a ti faster Harder The door bangs against the hen I wrench it open A heaviness in asps And it’s not fro

My sister She’s dying

I round the corner, swing into my sister’s room and my heart tears out of my chest "Fuck!" My hand covers ht the dry heave I don’t win I never win My body convulses "Fuck!"

It’s not happening It’s not My fingers forers, floods intothe skin fro?" It’s a nurse Slance up and the entire hallatches

I point at the empty room "Rachel"

"Is down the hall" She continues to talk, but I don’t give a fk I run Past her Past others Past the stares Past the ICU Past the waiting roo, and then I catch blond hair in a bed and I pause

Blue eyes A sotten how to breathe I stued breaths "Rachel?"