“A lot of girls in your situation go to England.
It’s allowed there, you know.”
I sigh.
“I think you still have some time to decide.”
I nod, trying to stand. Patrick gets up before I
do and holds out his hand to help me. I accept his
hand and pull myself up, and then I wash my face
and brush my teeth before going back into the
living room, where he has just gone.
I find him sitting on the couch with the same
cup as before in his hands.
“It’s still hot,” he says, touching the bottom of
the cup. “It’ll do you good. You’ll see—the worst
has passed.”
I sit on the couch where he makes space for me.
I rest my back on the armrest and stretch out my
legs until they’re touching his. He goes rigid right
away and sits up straight, playing nervously with
that metal thing in his tongue.
Brrr.
“You want me to go call Rain?”
“No, please don’t. She’d worry too much and
start crying.”
“You want to be alone?”
Alone? I’m terrified of being alone but what am
I supposed to do? Ask him to stay? Justhim?
I don’t answer, lost in my thoughts. Patrick
must have understood because he finally takes off
his jacket and hangs it on the armchair next to us,
then he settles in and grabs my ankles and so my
