Chapter 45. You've Made It Worse

S:

She’s in my room when I return.

Sitting on the edge of the bed like she belongs there.

Like nothing’s wrong.

She looks up, tries to smile.

“Hey.”

I don’t answer.

Walk past her.

Toss the keys on the table with more force than needed.

She follows me.

“S…” her voice is small. “Can we talk?”

I open the closet.

Pull my belt tighter.

Like it’ll hold the fury in place.

She reaches for me. I step away.

“You saw it,” she says quietly. “Didn’t you?”

I don't look at her.

Don’t trust myself to.

“I didn’t tell you because—”

“Because you lied.”

My voice slices the room in half.

She flinches.

“Don’t turn it soft now, Rae. Don’t wrap it up in excuses. You lied.”

“I didn’t want to worry you!”

I turn.

“You didn’t want to worry me?”

I laugh once. Cold.

“After a truck rammed into you and a man grabbed you by the