er mom as she followe

ome in her ears. She weighed her body, as every step was hard. She was still reeli

ask Ava t

in an orderly manner and turned ab

t sharply," You are goin

allowe

finger. "You've sai

h. Her hands were s

, which were already straight, adjusting the things that we

ent on. "A real one. And not a cer

d. "You... you c

You will have appointments regularly. Y

d weakly. "Mom, I

You have demonstrated that you are not

would be. Her eyes were stinging, and she did n

he table. And this will, she said, rem

gasped. "M

t, coldly. No friends stuffing nonsense in your h

in on Ava. "Riley only

" Pat replied.

Her chest was glued up with

l not be discussed in other plac

dded s

n," Pat said. You will neith

flin

fed up. "Go to your roo

s was heavier than the previous one. As she reached her r

th came

s her l

was twisted not with sickness, but with fear. Fear of the lie she'd

er shoes, she heard footste

n's

skipped

rc

remained in sil

is footsteps asc

ed. Please don't

ot-steps pause

s a gent

Marcus was heard at

. She couldn't answer. No, she thought,

r opene

is jacket was still on. His eyes noticed her

d softly. "Wh

t him. The attempt almost made her s

did, did not seem

red in a rush, but her

o the room and closed the d

ght," Ava repeated,

face. "You're pal

just

eve her. She c

, in a whisper, "Why? Is somet

jumped i

haking her head.

o get you home with

nd gazed at a window. The da

close. No more than enough

o me, Ava, he s

almost b

s into herself.

Your mom told me you

ropped. "She...

hing in detail," he said.

one wor

so that he looked at h

va turned

ping at each word, as though he were attempt

you are trying to

eath c

I'm

- here-here,

d quickly. "You d

e the words in be

ned. "What do

said fast. "I

lking felt dang

se away all the l

d slowly. "Did I d

her heart

hispered. "

like you are fal

urred her vision. She shoo

est," she said

for some time. His

inally. "If that'

ound the doo

"You should tell someone, in case you

ot look a

ed, "You need not car

closed be

that she had not been

flew to he

said to herself.

the wall down the stai

ing wa

y w

, Ava was unprepare

creasing anxiety,

e murmured

ears and was becoming h

you hidin