NOT THEIR KIND OF BEAUTY

O

ng plus-size duckling. For days, random people stared at me on the streets

p apologizing for leaving you all alone to be with Trevor when I sh

ned was not your fault. You can't always be there to protect me. Th

smartest people I know, Donna. You can't keep let

have a boyfriend who's crazy about you," I chuckled sadly, "but I'm just plai

utiful inside and out, and someday you're going to meet a ki

ine voice spoke from behind my bedr

pearing at the doorway. "Relax, it's just m

nd clutching my chest. I dropped my hands,

layfully scolded. "You weren't supposed to re

g before schedule, so I thought

rop on us, didn't you?" I

f you were talking so loudly," he playfully

ting out a small smil

aid, standing up from my bed. "But I've got to go before Trevor start

ing her a thum

the two of us, o

hlia smiled, blowing dad an

lied as Dahlia scurried pas

promised, disappe

g over to my bed. "Are you okay, sweet pea?" His

I said with a h

front of me, sweetie. If you're having too much of a

gs better." I blinked back the tears that were threateni

e schools so many times, but I didn't agree. I didn't want to run away. And eve

e looked away, his bright eyes dimming with sadnes

le playing on my li

l with him. He would stare at mom's photo and rant about his day in the office, like he always did when she was still alive. It was almost like he never fully accepted that she was gone. Maybe because he didn't get the opport

d Rachael would be so proud of you." I flashed him a reassuring

got up from the bed. "How about we go wa

t to

"Yeah, you

took his hand, standing to my feet. I linked my ar