na's

rned to continue what I was doing, even though my ha

not ignore no matter how much I wanted to, and I needed to

len

stopped me dea

facing him, my fingers tightening

have never said my name out loud

, I saw the bright smile on his face. I had never

wasn't

irected

kept my face straight,

g here for the next

was

hing else added to it. His tone ma

felt dry. Of course, I wasn't in a positi

is mind, and all he need

then my alarm rang, the sharp sound cutting t

phone and glance

o pick

p breath, lifting my hand to wipe at my cheek when I felt the

rself t

arted heading t

you going?"

looking ba

Eli from sch

"I'll go. With Joa

slightly before

never done

t alone. He always went with me, and wh

, always ran to me the moment he saw me, ho

nd even with Brent, he stil

no

s going w

like

the thought settled in. Was th

the time even came? Filling my plac

rmal, but my head had already started to throb again, and a

w plea

ing to push it down,

y something, but my

hit me, stron

dn't

steps uneven as I held onto the railing f

behind me, saying something I d

ore I pushed the door open and

ting the floor with a dull sound as everyth

ipping the edge tightly

, leaving me weak as I tried

d under my breath,

ally did, I stayed there, breathing slowly, my che

d and looked at

ed ter

y, and my eyes looked tired,

water on my face, letting it ru

gettin

ut of the bathroom, my movements slo

alked into the roo

eath

cused downward, and it took me only a s

b

d earlier was still sca

art s

o

but my feet slowed wh

pa

est r

enly it felt like somethin

nt, I coul

asked, his voice calm a

here, unable to move, unable to think,