e shack was filthy, the food scraps. Cletus was always watching me, his eyes making my skin crawl. I thou

de and Pa was sleeping off whatever moonsh

ch other better," he sn

d when he yelped, I shoved him with all my might.

de, gulping the clean, cold air, and ran.

s ached. I could hear C

ere, you li

y face, my city sneakers useless on the uneven ground. I tri

n seconds, yanking

way, huh?" He dragged me

ere, arms crossed. "

sperate, hopeless sound. "Eli Miller! Agnes

just looked

unted, suddenly more ale

clutching at the straw of their

hey ain't got no granddaughters up her

s streaming down my face. "Pl

axe. It was Jake, my cousin. He sometimes did odd jobs for folks out

f flooding me. "Jake, i

– dirty, bruised, my hair matted. He didn't re

here?" he asked

erson said smoothly. "Claims she's

– confusion? Doubt? Then he shook his head. "Don't know her.

of hope died. I