Because I don’t want to be like my mother.
I just needed a reminder of that. Maybe that’s why I’d called her in the first place.
“I know, Mama,” I tell her. “Take care of yourself.”
I cut the line and take a deep, staggering breath.
I feel so drained. Exhausted, in a soul-deep kind of way.
But I’m done putting this off. I’ve made up my mind and I know in my bones that it’s the rightdecision. No more excuses now.
Evie splashes water into my face.
I jerk back. “Hey!” I shout.
She cackles and swims away. Her laughter fills the air. Makes me feel lighter than I have in days.
Charlotte has been gone for almost two hours. I’m trying not to get worked up about it, but as thesecond hour comes to a close, I’m starting to feel agitated.
The possibilit
