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“And she just didn’t care She fell for me anyway”

I wasn’t going to fall for it like Garrett did I didn’t believe that one angel had swooped in and delivered ical redemption He had been with her for maybe two months I had spent twenty years with this

“I’lad she is supportive of healthy choices for your treatment But what about the teeks? Where have you been? You walked away from your job You didn’t talk to your friends This is the kind of stuff you do when you’re not ok”

“I’ll call theize”

“That’s great, but you aren’t telling me what happened I drove around with Dad yesterday Dad,” I pressed the point

He chuckled “Sorry I lad it wasn’t me”

“You think it’s funny we thought you were dead or shaking in a dirty bathroom somewhere?” I hopped from the sofa “What you do matters to me It matters to all of us So this time you left because of some happiness journey it sounds like? Your happiness led to my misery You should have seen Mom She’s a wreck”

He stared atYou live in DC You have your life Hoas I supposed to know they’d ask you to fly down?”

“Because when so that’s what you do!” I was flushed My head spun

“Calm down I’m sorry Really, I should have checked in Or out or whatever”

“I don’t knohat to say anymore” I pulled out my phone “They need to know you’re alive You can tell them your version of whatever it is that happened”

I realized in my hands was the decision to call one parent before the other To choose asI scowled I dialed my mother

“Emilyt, I woke up and you weren’t here”

“Mom, I’m fine I’m with Garrett”

“Oh, God Thank you Thank you Where is he? I want to talk to him”