But I can’t give her what she wants.
I have to focus on my mom and getting her well again.
Fuck college.
I’ll do what I’ve got to do to survive, even if it means cutting everyone off.
Mom needs to be away from that place and everyone in it.
I know Kai and his family would put themselves on the line to help us, but this is a family affair.
I step outside to call Kai for the second and last time, my hands trembling as I dial his familiar number.
He answers, and the clatter of dishes in the background tells me he’s probably about to have dinner.
“Talk to me.”
The line falls silent as Kai moves away from the noise, and I let out a deep sob.
Kai curses, and I know I need to get a grip before he loses his shit and comes searching for us.
“Bro.”
Those words are enough to send me off it.
Kai is my brother, albeit not by blood, but he’s all I’ve got.
“I can’t come back,” I tell him, my voice ragged with agony.
The pain seems to double in force now, and I sink to my knees in the parking lot.
“You canalwayscome back. I don’t care what’s happened.”
I can’t tell him.
All he knows is that I had to leave with his credit card to take my mom away from my abusive, piece of shit dad.
“It’s bad, Kai.”
“I don’t care.”
“I can’t come back,” I repeat, staring up into the night sky.
It’s littered with stars, and I can’t help but wonder how it must feel to exist beneath them without pain.
“Then I’ll come with you.” Kai is a stubborn fucker, but I’m not dragging him into this shit.
No way.
“No.”
“Crane, man, I’m not asking.”
Kai has it all: the family, the love, the girl—all of it. He has a bright future ahead of him, and I refuse to hold him back.
“Do something for me,” I whisper, clutching the phone to my ear.
“Anything,” Kai replies with emotion.
