Chapter 36

Patricia

Alice is sitting in the kitchen when I tumble out of my bedroom. She lifts her chin and gives me a sad smile upon noticing me.

It breaks my heart to see my friend like this, and I immediately wonder what has happened to her.

Alice has been living inside her room like a hermit for days. I can also tell she has been crying. Her eyes are puffy and red.

"Hi..." Alice is staring down into her coffee cup, barely even blinking.

I hand her a kind smile, ignoring the fact that we are both trotting around in our pajamas.

"Good morning," I say and walk over to open the fridge. I have a craving for yogurt. "Did you sleep well tonight?"

"Not really," Alice says, and then she inhales as if bracing herself to tell me something important. "Can we talk?"

I turn around. "Of course!"

Alice's lips twitch, and then she faces me with tears glistening on her cheeks. Her eyes are