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“What’s going on with you, Abby?” Nina asks, worry evident in her tone

“Nothing I just have a lot going on right noith my classes,” I say It eats at my insides every time I have to lie to my family

Nina isn’t convinced, but she never is The girl has always been too s Luckily, after years of trying to get ave up She kno stubborn I can be

“You’re lying,” she says bluntly I clench my jaw and hold back my bitchy remark We’re only as close as I’ll allow, but we still carry a tight bond, even if it has to be hundreds of miles away

“No need to state the obvious, Neen But what’s wrong withto do with y’all Please, just let Mom know I’m okay, and I’ll call her in a few days I just need ti”

“Why won’t you ever let us in, Abby?” My heart cracks more at her sad words “Ever since you left, you’ve shut us out I’ve never understood why you left so abruptly Mom and Dad worry about you all the time You knoould be there for you, nous away and let your family be there We love you”

And there goes more fractures to my heart “None of you would understand,” I tell her sadly

“How can you know that? We sure as shit won’t understand if you won’t give us the chance”

A hysterical laugh bubbles up in my chest, but it falls when a sob escapes instead

“Believe ht, Neen I’ll never be right I have… things going on that none of you could ever grasp”

“That’s not fair of you to keep us away, Abby It’s been eight years We’re you’re fa through, we’d still be there for you”

Tears spring to hting this I th right now But I’m still so afraid to tell the other than pure love

“I know,” I whisper “Just give uarantee anything, okay?”

She lets out a relieved sigh, and it ain I know I’ve put a strain on ues me

“Okay”