Page 15 (2/2)

“Dr Hartazes snap to me “I’ll take my medication”

My roomed eyebrows shoot up “Really, Sam?”

I nod “I don’t want to be sick anymore” I don’t want to be here anyood n Not sure when’s the last tienuinely I see Tyler flinch in the corner, and my stomach sinks My fake smile falls

Dr Hartman watches me intently, her expression skeptical, but she decides to take my offer “That’s wonderful, Sam And you’ll see, in time, these visions will cease You’ll be able to return to your life again”

I didn’t take her for a liar A wound-too-tight-control-freak-who-needs-to-get-laid ers to curl into a tight ball,into my palm

Return to my life

I glimpse Tyler out of the corner of my vision, his dirty blond hair beautifully disheveled, like always His chocolate brown eyes brilliant despite his faded appearance And his full, downturned lips, the knowing look on his face that screams there is no return

This is my reality now

He’s my only reality

I died with him that day

FIVE MONTHS EARLIER

“How about Wichita?” Tyler suggests as his index finger traces the map spread out on the bed before us

I wrinkle my nose “Wichita? What the hell’s in Wichita?” I study its location on the map “Oh, no Kansas? Wouldn’t they try to burn oes to s Then I wink at him

He chuckles “It’s a city A big one I think your witchy ways are safe” He kisses the star tattoo on hter His lean, muscled forearms flex with the movement

I s “witchy” since I started dying h school It’s neither Goth nor witchy, but he’s really cute when he says this, so he gets aith it

And I’ at all After his h again He’s taken it so hard Has been in such a dark place, where I feared he’d never fi

nd his way out Lately, I’ve seen glih the pain So I whip outhim back to me, if only for this moment

Since we haven’t been intiht, too Truth is, I haven’t wanted to pressure him I almost roll my eyes But yes, I haven’t wanted to pressure my nineteen-year-old boyfriend for sex Because I know he’s struggling not only with his mom’s death, but the absurd amount of stress his father puts hi without sex since ere freshh school I think I’m past blue balls

I’ve been looking forward to this night for the pastat his father’s office have taken up most of his time He works late hours on the island, and e do have time to ourselves, he’s usually too tired to plan any part of the wedding And with everything that’s happened, I haven’t pushed Not even for a ring

The honey about traveling the country since before ere both walking Okay, that’s an exaggeration But he’s been dying to do it for as long as I can remember

I suggested we travel before we actually get married, but he doesn’t want that He wants our trip to be special, to be the first tiether, our start of forever Only we have to set an actual date for the wedding first

I was starting to feel likecold feet We’re only nineteen, sophoether forever In soether Best friends since diapers A couple since our fresh partners in elementary school when he wanted to run off and join the WWF