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“What happened in Sacramento?”

I blinked.

The question came so out of the blue that I withdrew my hand and started walking again.

Julie followed me, watching me closely.

“A lot...”

I didn't know if I wanted to answer in detail. But it wouldn't be fair to ask her to be open when I wasn't.

“I was passed from family to family, always searching for my real one, until they told me that my mother had died when I was born and my father had run away.”

Lost in thought, I let my gaze wander over the bare deciduous trees and large conifers around me, listening to the birds chirping.

Vanderwood was a welcome distraction. A beautiful place where, despite all the drama, everything was still better than in Sacramento.

“Without my best friend, all the words these people said would have broken me.”

Julie smiled softly. “So that's why you followed her into this hell.”

I nodded slowly.

Julie continued walking beside me in silence until she looked at me again. “Seems like we both don't have it easy.”

A slight grin played around the corners of my mouth.

It was good to know that I wasn't alone, even though I wished Julie had a better life than the one she seemed to have right now. But somehow, it just felt natural to open up to her.

Bayla was my best friend, but she had grown up in a sheltered environment and led a privileged life, without ever being rejected by family members or emotionally, or even physically harmed by people she trusted.

That was the only reason I hadn’t told her everything yet. The fear of overwhelming or scaring her had always created a certain distance between us, and I was entirely to blame for that.

“If life were a game, I sometimes wonder if I would really play,” I finally laughed.

“I’ve often thought about quitting.”

The answer came coolly, tonelessly, and I hadn't been prepared for it.

My heartbeat quickened.

What if I had just touched a sore spot in Julie? One that hadn't healed yet? The scars on her left arm spoke volumes.

“Julie... I don't want to cross the line, but... what they're doing to you?” I shook my head. “You have to get out of there.”

With no sign of emotion on her face, she stared after Buddy, who kept chasing away the same raven, which didn't seem to want to leave the path and kept coming back.

“I would risk a lot to get out of there, leave this town.”

“But...?”

She looked down, tense. Strands of white hair slid into her face.

“You can't just leave this place, especially if you were born here.”

It sounded as if we were trapped inside a prison. Just as I had seen it until a few weeks ago.

The memory of the words I had said to the three of them in the student accommodation a few minutes ago flashed through my mind.