“You have a death wish. Everyone knows that.”
“Death wishis a strong choice of words,” I said airily. “I prefer to think that life and I are keeping things casual. No need to get serious.”
Milo’s voice tapered to a whisper. “You said in group that you wanted to die.”
“Oh, that.” I rolled away to turn my gaze to the ceiling. “That was ages ago. When I first got here.”
“But I know you still think that way,” Milo said. “I don’t know how you got them to let you out, but you’re not well.”
I flapped my hands in the air. “Sure, I’m fucked up. We’re all fucked up. Who isn’t fucked up? But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re going to be okay. You can be okay and completely fucked up at the same time. I’m living proof.”
He sniffed. “Doesn’t feel like I’m going to be okay. Not without you.”
“Sure you will. You just don’t believe me because I’m Cassandra.”
“Who?”
“Don’t you know your Greek mythology?”
“But you have it all memorized, right?” He scoffed. “Whatever. Keep your giant IQ to yourself. You’re leaving and it sucks, and that’s all there is to know.”
Milo rolled away again, but I barreled on, undeterred.
“Cassandra lived in ancient times and was like me: so extraordinarily good looking that gods were falling out of the sky to try to hook up.”
Milo snorted. “Give me a break. You’re not that good looking.”
“I beg your pardon. Have youseenme?”
He laughed a little, and I took that as a small victory.
“Apollo, the sun god, took one look at Cassandra and decided he had to have her. In an attempt to win her heart, he gave her the gift of prophecy.”
“What’s prophecy?”
“Cassandra could predict the future, which honestly seems like a pretty sweet deal for some under-the-toga action. My last date didn’t even buy me dinner before I gave him a blow.” I stroked my chin in mock thoughtfulness. “Or maybe thatwasthe dinner…”
Milo smacked a hand to his forehead. “Dude…”
“TMI?”
“With you? Always.” He rolled back to face me and propped himself on one elbow. “But wait, who was your last date? There’s no dating allowed. Or did you talk them into breaking the rules for you?Again.”
“Dr. Picour needed no persuading, I assure you.”
Milo practically fell out of bed. “What?That issobad! He’s a doctor. You’re a patient. And seventeen—”
“Keep your voice down,” I hissed. “Some side action with a doctor—”
“Amarrieddoctor.”
“—is a mere footnote in my sordid history.”And my ticket out of this place.“Now, hush up and let me finish. Where was I?”
“Cassandra and Apollo.”
“Right. Cassandra knew what Apollo really wanted with his fancy gift, and she wasn’t interested in being turned into a walking Magic 8 Ball.”
Milo laughed again, which made me feel good about myself. And that didn’t happen very often. Like Halley’s Comet—a rare bright streak across a cold black sky and then gone again.
