ppard's social media. The days until she left were counting down.

pty, and a chill hung in the air. She went into the ki

phone buzzed. It was a m

won't be home tonight.

more photos. A candlelit dinner. A

tly as she looked at the pictures.

ka

chool group chat. Someone had tagged her. She clicked on it and s

lifornia, she probably wouldn't come back

ly brought the gr

other Jarrett Sheppa

back overnight and brought a search party into the mountains to find you. He said

f a time when she felt safe and warm. But now, those warm feelin

ne down and replie

not co

letely. They didn't know about the confession he had rejected when she was seventeen. And th

ght years old again, standing awkwardly by the fountain on he

her indifferently. Then he turned and w

r face wet with tears tha

the very beginning, maybe she would have u

e world wasn't never having something. It was having

corner of her room, full of memories. Thirteen days

hese memories away. Only by getting rid of them

icked up the heavy duffel ba

downstairs, she saw Jar

her hand. "School hasn't started yet.

"I'll be living on campus later, so I pa

carry the heavy b

took the bag from her, and walked outside. He threw i

heart sink. If he cared even a little, he would have rec

und the world to bring her over the years. They were also

ance at the trash. His gaz

s no need to live on campus. Stay at home af

r high school teacher, he would have known she hadn't even applied to any colleges in the cit

Prince now. He didn't ca

ys left. Once she was in Californi

rned and went back up

she heard Kisha

ould learn to be independen

he stairs, then co

t. And she wouldn't hope for the future. From no