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“Here” He handed ain

“How’s Ji line of his nose and jaas in profile, the curve of his lips How h to lasta lot better See to be okay”

“That’s great news”

“At least he co bitter “Ourdisaster from what I hear But then, she alas She used to take us to the park because she needed to score She’d turn up to school plays and parent–teacher nights high as a kite”

I keptI could do for hier in his voice was heartbreaking My parents had their overbearing issues, certainly, but nothing like this David’s childhood had been terrible If I could have bitch-slapped histhat pain in his voice, I would have Twice over

“Dad ignored her using for years He could He was a long-haul truck driver, away most of the time Jimmy and me were the ones that had to put up with her shit The nu all sorts of stuff or passed out on the couch There’d be no food in the house ’cause she’d spent the grocery money on pills Then one day we caone That was it” He stared up at nothing, his face drawn “She didn’t even leave a note Now she’s back and she’s been hurting Jimmy It drives me nuts”

“Thatabout her from Jimmy”

One of his shoulders did a little lift “He shouldn’t have had to deal with her on his own Said he wanted to protectbrother isn’t a coto?” The sudden change in topic told me he didn’t want to talk about his fa “Sorry”

“The Saint Johns”

He nodded, flicking through to find the only song I had of theirs The stru my head He put the cell on his chest and his eyelids drifted down Aabout their head and their heart Throughout it, his face remained calm, relaxed I started to wonder if he’d fallen asleep But when the song finished he turned to look at me

“Nice A bit sad,” he said

“You don’t think they’ll be together in the end?”

He, too, rolled onto his side There was no more than a hand’s width between us With a curious look, he handedyou like”

I scrolled through the screens, trying to decide what to play for hi they’d seen you today Your anonyhed “Bound to happen sooner or later They’ll just have to get used to ?” I tried to keep ht but it didn’t work

“No I’m really not” He looked atAll of my fears and dreams and the hopes I did my best to keep hidden, even from myself But I couldn’t hide from him if I tried “Okay?”