I hate it.
I clear my throat and force it out.
“I want one normal day,” I whisper. “Where I don’t have to be brave. Where I don’t have to pretend I’m fine. Where I can pretend my life isn’t filled with this…” The words lodge themselves in my chest, and I have to swallow before I can get the rest out. “Constant dread that any time I let my guard downfor just a second, it’ll be the end. I just want to live a normal day.”
Silence.
Blakely nods once, like she expected exactly that. “Okay.”
Jade’s eyes shine. “We can do that.”
I scoff, wiping my face before anyone can see it. “You can’t.”
Logan’s voice is quiet. “We can try.”
My chest tightens.
I stand abruptly, grabbing my phone like it’s a shield that can protect me from reality. “Okay. Time. Twenty-five minutes is up.”
Jade pouts. “You’re leaving?”
I nod, not trusting my voice quite yet.
Blakely stands, too, moving closer. “Text me when you’re home.”
“I will,” I mutter.
Jade wraps me in another hug—quick and fierce. “You did great today,” she whispers.
I swallow hard. “Stop.”
“No,” she says, pulling back to look at my face. “It’s okay to let people be proud of you, ya know.”
My throat tightens. I hate her, but I love her at the same time.
Logan stands carefully, grabbing his keys. “Come on.”
We leave before I can melt into the couch and become someone softer than I trust.
—
Outside, Logan walks beside me, limping slightly.
Neither of us speaks at first.
The car is silent when we get in, the muffled party noise fading behind us.
When Logan starts the engine, he glances at me.
“You okay?” he asks.
I stare out the window. “No. Not really.”
Logan’s hand tightens briefly on the steering wheel.
Then he says, quietly, “That’s okay.”
No argument. No pep talk.
