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I runabout?"

"Ellie” Asher grabs my arm and looks me in the eye "It'syou into my life I won't let you ruin your life for o away"

I rub ht Dad can do just about anything He'll see the holes in Asher's story and realize I shot Clint He'll know that I had no choice and he'll ht

It takes thirty minutes for Dad to make it to Asher's house Ibefore Asher can screw it up Dad looks atin his eyes, and says, "It's okay, honey You did the right thing"

He pulls ether Asher kneels over his mother but stands when he sees us and wipes at his eyes "Sir"

Dad nods, but frowns "Want to tell me what happened?"

"Yes, sir, but can we go outside?”

"Of course"

I sit on the steps, hugging myself as they walk around the cul de sac I wish I so away I rubwill be alright

Dad pulls his phone from his pocket and places it to his ear This is it The defining moerprinted, but I'll be alright I was defending e will see that besides, the world is a better place without that scum on this earth

The cops arrive in less than thirtyaround the exterior as one officer says, "Asher Anderson, you're under arrest"

I don’t kno I got hoot into Mom’s car soic also tells ed out of my bloodied clothes Took a shower Fell onto my bed and possibly even went to sleep I don’t remember any of it

All I re into the carpet under Clint's lifeless body I remember Mary Anne's beautiful face, ashen and covered in bruises The purplecompared to the ones around her neck Asher’s step-dad choked his mom to death and then went after him

Tears pool inI should be the one behind bars, not Asher I shot Clint I' in my comfy bed while he lays on a o on as nor His scholarship to UF His hos in that ta

ttered house