Chapter 52

It’s been days since Arrick left my room, and I am barely functioning. I have moped around, either at home until my mom’s pandering efforts have driven me mad or at Emma or Leilas’, who are equally suffocating me. Jake is my only respite, with his shrugged-off chill and his ‘life’s too short’ attitude. He tends not to dwell on ‘matters’ with me and lets me hang out. He’s keeping me sane while everyone else is mothering me to insanity.

I’m restless, listless, and antsy, and I need to let off some steam to feel normal for one night. Every part of my body screams to go out, get blind drunk, and numb for a few hours, but I’m stopping myself from going down that route again. Trying to behave, listening to my counselor, whom I saw this morning for the first time, and trying like crazy to keep my head above water. My heart’s bruised and in pain, but I’m handling it. I know why I feel this way, and it’s making a difference in how I deal with it.

James, my therapist, suggested ke