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Beatrice was still awake

I set the plate of food on her nightstand even though I expected it to go to waste

She remained on her side, the sheets to her shoulder, the curtains keeping out the city lights

I turned to leave

She sat up in bed, giving a quiet wince as she rested her back against the headboard

I turned back to her, her ar her an emaciated look, not the svelte look she possessed when she was happy and healthy

Her arms crossed over her chest, and she bent her knees, her feet sliding across the sheets and filling the silence with ripped herself like she was stuck outside in the cold

I sat at the edge of her bed

“I’ to my parents’ place in London”

“A change in scenery will be good for you” I assuo alone, because I would not let Claire leave when I just got her back, when the pain from her absence was still so raw “Take a break”

Her eyes re her ar back”

I stared

“I don’t want to be here anymore This place…” She shook her head “It’s not home anymore”

Anger flushed intoyou take Claire” Nonnegotiable

“I wasn’t going to” She lifted her gaze and finally met my look

Disappointe Fury “You can’t do that to her” Claire was in my care most of the time, and her time with her mother was seldom and short I was already her full-tihter to ever feel abandoned “Especially after everything she’s been through”

Her sigh was deep, like the words she hadn’t said already exhausted her “I’m a shitty mom Let’s just be honest about that”