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"Dad…"

"Well, it’s silly We can’t even get your clothes Gavin is MIA -- again -- big surprise"

"Stop it"

Mom’s needles clicked faster She had to be upset about Dad’s tirade Her husband was beco pain in the ass

I sure didn’t knohat to do Nobody could tellout And even if they did, Dad had a point Gavin had my keys

I’d forced myself to slon my texts to one per hour He hadn’t answered any since early afternoon Dinner was coet out, the complex office was closed Without their backup key, I wouldn’t be able to get in my own place

Maybe I could stay with Jenny I would not survive a night in a hotel rooo Where is your place?" He directed the question atat the phone, willing it to beep

"Corabelle?" Dad’s voice was so unlike hiy

I heard Mo away "Arthur, let her have some peace, at least until to "And the day after that and the day after that?"

I would not liftit down, try to appeal to h this cycle several ti the phone I had to get out of the rooown I passed through the door, searching for an escape, a place to be where everything was silent and at peace Mypast the nurse station, taking every possible turn, disappearing through thewas too rapid, and painful, but I o faster, put more distance between myself and my parents

The halls all looked the saly as I hurried down the corridor, I forced myself to slon and look norh I kneas unwise to cut through another section of the hospital since I h the doors and entered the hub of the hospital that housed the elevators and the entrances to other sections

I crossed to another set of doors This hall was silent, no bustle, no people A coughing fit caainst the wall, hacking and sucking in breaths For a moment, spots flashed across my vision, as familiar as h it, clutching my chest until it subsided

There were no nurses, no station here, so no one noticed me I just wanted a place to sit for athe corridor, thinking maybe these were offices, until I passed a partially opened door and stopped dead