Chapter 89. Frustration

The world outside my window was gray and harsh. A thin crust of yesterday’s snow lay on the branches, fragile and sorry. I felt the same way.

My mother was standing at the door of my room, arms folded, a familiar worry was engraved in the creases around her eyes. “Lila, you look terrible. Your fever was up all night. You can’t go to school.”

She was right. Every single part of me was sore, so tired in my cells that it was like getting a hybrid flare-up. My head was all fuzzy and when I put on my sweater I got dizzy. But the sickness in my body was nothing compared with the cavern I had been left with in my chest from losing Ryder.

He held me. And then he left.

I needed answers. I couldn’t get them from my bed. I’m fine Mom,” I told her. “It’s just a little cold,” I said, the weakness in my voice surprising even me. “I have a big test today. There’s no way I’m going to get away from this.”

She didn’t believe me, of course, but she sighed and stepped asid