silent, empty house, pulling

s Aug

uring. "Just wanted to check if you need

e came out a little rou

d the t

eady filled with old newspapers and dusty knick-knacks. T

booked flights

innings

d, had one last cr

Jonah, surrounded by friends, was laughing loudly, his arm around Anisa's shou

past unnoticed, a silent ghost ble

ught. They found me. She pulled away from

eked, darting dire

skidded violently. The front wheel

car, my arm scraping against it with a sickening thud

to Anisa, who was screaming in fr

he hit you?" he demanded,

he sidewalk. "Claire! What the hell were you

s friends exclaimed, pointing at

ger in his eyes didn't diminish. "Are you hurt?" H

lancing through me. My gaze fixed on An

nt of my bike?" I asked, my voi

I just saw you! I ran over to tell you I finally sorted things o

ef in her expression. "Claire, honey, you misunderstood. Sh

For what? For protecting you from her attacks? Claire's alw

ire, if you apologize first, then I'll apologize. And

so harsh! Claire, I'm sorry, he's just so protective of me. He can get a

blank slate. "No need," I said, my voice flat

gain," he sneered. "Acting like you d

back on my bike, my leg t

ing a big deal out of nothing," he said dismissively. "It's not lik

harder, toward the future, toward Augus

is about t