““try and save her from herself. Instead I leave her. I walk away from her subtle pleas for help and let her drown in the urban sea of drugs and guns, checking in only often enough to make sure she’s alive. It’s the one thing in my life I regret—leaving her. After the police raid I make a promise to myself to stay away. Everything she does makes me hate her more. She’s a blemish discoloring the pretty picture I’ve painted of my life. So, I pack my things and practically move in with Josh. His unbroken family welcomes me into their storybook home with love. They eat dinner at the table every night and talk about important things, like economics and politics. I nod, pretending I know enough to agree with them. Josh and I ignore his mother’s weak protests about us sharing a bed and do it anyway. It’s easy to forget Lucy and all the trouble she brings, all the worry and screaming over what’s right””
