Shadows of Yesterday

a 's

and vanilla. Now, they're just walls, covered in shadows that stretch with the passing hou

doe

er a year si

eeks. A hundred different

's grand wedding, he's shipping me off

ished, but it holds the only picture of my mother I have left. She's smiling in i

't have wa

ughts. I don't answer. A second later, the do

etheart, we

pmo

tly still, my gaze locked on the clouds. It's better that way. Looking at her,

y somethin

businesslike. "Laila , enough with

do

sk. He's tall, broad-shouldered, still carrying the air of authority that makes gro

s. "You're going to spend the summer

twists. "

at you think, darling," she rushes out. "It's not one of those... clinical

t rid

steady breath. "I

she's about to cry. Always so dramatic.

ut in. "You don't kn

ep in, might defend me, might act like the father he used to be-but he d

Just like that. Final. Ab

Ledge-hill

ce, going on about how "amazing" the camp is, how it's ru

e her

give way to thick, towering trees. Somewhere alon

re where w

want to

when we pull up to Ledge-

cross the open space, some sitting in circles, others kicking a soccer ball across the field.

a rehabilit

a summ

curl in

is?" I ask,

inks. "Laila

it was for healing." I whip my head t

look hurt. "I

even r

ing me flinch. My father sighs, then final

't an

quared, ignoring the too-bright

t belo

ant to be

onto the perfectly paved walk

r is going