Between two worlds

d the one after that. Work. Home. Mich

about anything-except the ache in my feet and the silence of my

eathing?"

rel

, and I pretended to care. It wasn't about the book. It was about the

said, "Don't overthink it." That was

he kno

l

friend of a friend who appeared when life got too quiet. Sh

to sit. "There's a party. My cou

N

"You need to breathe. You've been either wo

. "You keeping

o... stuck. Let loose. Wea

protest. Sh

ute guys. Or not. But mostly,

ed of hiding. Maybe I was

ing a long gown. The safe

ou're wearing that? It's a

at I'm comf

it, but her lo

dies. Glittering lights that danced like they had no care. I staye

rawling over me, wondering why I was shaped the way I was, why I mov

he

confident. His shirt was too tight, his cologne too eager. He

like you belon

"That's

u're funny. Wha

t the shift in the air. Her gaze, sharp and cold,

rlfriend," I

here i

... no

ure if I was serious. I didn't care

. The whispers started. Why didn't I laugh? Why

reathe in th

out before

ht felt better.

led M

I whispered

Just, "Send me

-

or clicked shut behind me like a seal on a bottle-on

d at me.

, starin

nk you'd ac

I'd actually g

in. "You want to talk about it, or should w

the window. "It was loud. Poi

are at th

ven wore a dress that wasn'

"Wow. That'

ut

ho pissed you off this time? Lame DJ? Dr

felt like a mannequin on display. Like I had to perf

hat. Just drove in s

ly, "I met G

this is supposed

being

pe she doesn't mind

wound me," he

h this useless informati

, fine. Want me t

m, arms crossed. "W

me girl from the pharmacy. We talked.

a? That se

lous," he s

dreams,

at p

teased. "You mi

r, "I need to stop at the pharma

, he said softly, "You know, you don't

le. "I'm not trying to be stron

r w

thorns in my throat. I just stepped

-

sitting by the window. Sh

und someone ne

ked. "

to mummy,

tired to lie. "W

ut

r look at the party cou

the excuse

ody came with more questions than answers? That even when someone said they loved me, i

dy," I murmu

y anything fo

ed, "I just don't want y

the night or the noise or the boy at the party-but from t

dy be alone in a w

ehind me, and let the silence wrap around