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Dad ignored me I rolledeggs for an omelet

“How did you sleep, sweetheart?”

“Good, good” I cut the fresh white bread and put two slices into the toaster “I’ to eat real quick and head to the diner, ht”

“Oh, don’t worry about that, sweety You don’t have to go today”

I cocked an eyebrow “I don’t?” Well, that was a first I’d worked at Lena’s all summer, no breaks Not even a weekend

Myas her face glowed In her forties, and she was still a beauty Sure, her skin was a bit saggy here and there, and there were deep wrinkles around her eyes and lips, but her long blond hair was as shiny as ever, and her eyes spoke of a er soul If she’d only had the ti… But she would’ve had to leave my dad first

She put the pan on the stove, wiped her hands on an old kitchen towel, and reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear

“It’s your birthday, sweety Maybe you want to go out, celebrate with your friends”

I blinked It was It was my birthday God! My life was so fucked up that I’d cootten about , work, scrub toilets, back home at 2 AM, sleep, repeat

“My darling Mila is eighteen,” Moive you some money so you can dye your hair back, okay?”

I pulled away “Mom, no! My hair is blue It stays blue”