rd' s social media. The days until she left were counting down. S

pty, and a chill hung in the air. She went into the ki

phone buzzed. It was a m

on' t be home tonight.

more photos. A candlelit dinner. A m

tly as she looked at the pictures.

ka

chool group chat. Someone had tagged her. She clicked on it and s

lifornia, she probably wouldn't come back

ly brought the gr

other Brendan Maynar

back overnight and brought a search party into the mountains to find you. He said

f a time when she felt safe and warm. But now, those warm feelin

e down and replied

not c

letely. They didn't know about the confession he had rejected when she was seventeen. And the

ght years old again, standing awkwardly by the fountain on h

m, glanced at her indifferently. Then he turned and wal

r face wet with tears tha

the very beginning, maybe she would have u

e world wasn't never having something. It was having

corner of her room, full of memories. Thirteen days

hese memories away. Only by getting rid of them

cked up the heavy duffel bag

tairs, she saw Brendan and C

her hand. "School hasn't started yet.

"I'll be living on campus later, so I p

carry the heavy b

took the bag from her, and walked outside. He threw i

If he cared even a little, he would have heard the sound of the w

und the world to bring her over the years. They were also

ance at the trash. His gaz

s no need to live on campus. Stay at home af

high school teacher, he would have known she hadn't even applied to any colleges in the city

e Ellis now. He didn't ca

ys left. Once she was in Californi

rned and went back up

ng quietly, "Is Jayde mad because

en now. She should learn to be independ

e stairs, then con

t. And she wouldn't hope for the future. From no