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“That’s what I was co to talk to you about that day,” I add

“When did you realize?” she asks, her voice dipping lower than normal

“When you kept showing up”

She looks confused

“Every time you showed up at the center,” I explain “When you spoke with Henry When you helped arden When you took care of the people who ”

I was so stubborn, I didn’t want to admit it

I couldn’t see past o, myself

I continue, “That’s when it started to happen, but I refused to see pastthe way, but then I finally realized I wasn’t angry with you I was angry with myself”

Her hand settles onme

I squeeze and press forward “I was angry I had put so e and do better I wanted to believe that even after what he did to Ivy Even after all of that, I still held hope things would change That he would change” I shake my head “It doesn’t matter”

Her hand picks up ers “Did you think if you hurthim?”

I nod “But the truth is, you have nothing to do with that Nothing to do with any of it My father purposely did this He purposely left the e because he wanted to torture me He had no shame”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes—”

She gives a dry, bitter laugh “It’s funny hoas such a different person for you than he was for me”

“It’s sick, actually” I stare at the ground, wondering if there’s an afterlife and if Dad’s there right now “Sometimes I talk to him”

“What do you mean?”

“I stare at the ground, and I talk to him I taunt him Because I’ht back”

She plays with ertips “Does it help?”

“No” I closeher touch “It never does” I repeathe’s evil and hating that part ofon to a piece of his father in hopes he’ll change “Because I’ht back”

Payton’s hands still, and she ently, I barely feel theave you?”

“No”

“I understand”

And I know she does

Because Payton Hart sees me