tear-soaked narrative of youthful mist

yes fixed on the p

y. A real city, with

y to con

, Ava," she said, her eyes plead

hose. He was probably wonderi

he phone than to her. "But I

lit up.

Jed just shrugged when I told him I was leaving with my l

nor talked. I listened w

eached it, was a jarring ex

eighborhood with houses so big the

oked like a wedding cake. L

y. Fan

red. "It's Chloe's birthd

ister? This was ge

car, past a valet who looked at my mud-cak

immering dresses and tailored suits. A s

Eau de cow manure, co

descending a grand staircase. Pink dres

tly plucked eyebrow ar

er voice dripping dis

out from behind Chloe. Tall, impeccably dressed, with a fac

aze lingering on my w

ning of this? Get this...

Harrison, Eleanor's husband

this is Ava. She's... she's my daug

from me to Eleanor and back again, his expre

er. Conversations died.

a shower and a

"From the *farm*? Mother, are you

my eye. Actual food. Not rehydrated

uiches. Shrimp the

a long time since breakfast, whi

s, the sheer awkwardness of it a

o stare, I might as

ed up