Chapter 9. Catching Up

I was out of the hospital in less than 24 hours, but it didn’t feel like a victory. It was almost time to face the one thing I dreaded the most—

Rose.

Judging by the past few hours, I could tell she hadn’t told anyone about what she saw. When Julian and Lily came to visit, neither of them acted differently toward me. If they knew, I was sure their expressions, their energy, would have changed.

Jillian was still his goofy self, cracking jokes and making me laugh. And for the first time, I realized something—I had never really had relationships like this before. Friends. People who actually cared about me, who made me laugh without expecting something in return.

I wasn’t sure how to handle it.

But I wanted to try.

"We’re hereee!" Julian called, pulling me out of my thoughts as he and Lily walked in.

No Rose.

My heart sank.

I wasn’t sure what I had expected. She had been shocked—anyone would be. But a par