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“Your stuff’s there,” she cutsher eyes to the neat pile by the narrow doorway

It’s al with a child when she’s like this, but I’ve never seen her so bad

She’s changed since I’ve been away But I guess I’m one to talk

We sit in silence for a while, the sound of Suze’s sto h

I think it

With a sigh, I stand to leave There’s no point wasting my time here when I could actually feel happy with someone else who actually wants me around

Michael’s waiting forfor me

“I should’ve ht before I make it out of the door

I turn to face her Her eyes are wide, shining with tears

“Why do you hate Michael so much?” I ask her plainly I have to know

She finally does laugh, but it’s an ironic laugh

Spiteful

“I don’t hate hi you go to look at the man, let alone—”

I can tell she can’t even bring herself to say it

“Kiss hi into a faint smile at the memory

Anything to do with Michael makes me smile Makes my heart flutter whenever I hear his name or even picture him in my mind

“Even your et to be so lucky?” she asks, more to herself than directly at me

“Lucky? Me?” I exclaim “Ha!”

But it’s all Suze needs to hear before fully unloading on me

She practically shouts everything I’ve got or done that she never has, her voice shaking at the end until she’s sobbing Telling et out but to fuck off

I’m stunned

Standing frozen as I join the dots in my mind

There’s college, which she never got to go to There’sthe bare minimum time with her foster parents

And now there’s Michael and ether