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Hours passed The sunlight that dappled the ooden floorboards gave way to long shadows that crept along the walls until her roo at the envelope She knew she was in danger of slipping back to that place that had existed for her after the accident The dark place full of pain and guilt and regret that would eventually give way to, well, nothing The thought scared her, and yet, in some ways, she wanted it

Being nuht now She was screaet it out

Squeezing her eyes shut, Morgan gasped, hating the iled car The blanket-draped body along the side of the road Cooper s at her from across the room

Her stupid orange beanie It was old and worn—but her h school ht up until that night hatever ined, had fled

Suddenly sitting up, she scrarabbed every single piece of clothing and tossed it, frantically searching every nook and cranny Next she ehtstand She was just about to start on her desk when she froze Someone was in the room with her

She was breathing hard, her face hot, as she turned The knot in her throat was big, and she couldn’t speak if she wanted to Her father stood just inside her bedroom He looked…unsure Maybe a little uncoer

Ryan Campbell didn’t look at the mess on the floor and he didn’t co What he did do was close the door behind him and nod to the bed

Sniffling, she followed his lead and sat down, pushing back tears when he settled in beside her He held a bowl of soup in his hands and, without saying a thing, offered it to her Morgan’s stomach churned, but she took the soup, and he waited patiently beside her until it was all gone

He set the bowl on the table beside her bed and clasped his hands together The silence weighed heavily It pressed into her until she wanted to scream

“I stopped drinking last week” His words were slow and precise

Morgan’s head lowered, and she stared at the floor “I’ with unshed tears, and she began to shake

“It was time”

Again, silence filled the space between them, until her father broke it “I never told you…” He cleared his throat, and she looked away, shaking her head because she was unsure of as co

“I need you to know that I don’t blame you for what happened to your mother I never did”

Tears slipped down her face, and she clutched the edge of the bed so tightly, her knuckles hite