Bones & All

“sometimes it’s the worst things in life that have the most to teach us. You take what you can, and as for the ugly parts, well—you ‘leave it go and get on with the business of living,’

“Stop it,” he said. “Stop being such an idiot.”
“I’m going to see my father now, and anything that happens after that is none of your business.”
He actually seemed hurt. “Do you really mean that?”
Of course I couldn’t look at him as I replied. “Yes,” I said. “I really mean that.”
“What if you change your mind?”
“I won’t.”
“You will. I know you will. But I can’t hang around waiting for you, Maren.”
I slung my rucksack over my shoulder and slammed the passenger door. “Then don’t.”

I never thought I’d be jealous of a girl in a mental hospital. And yet … if I could have switched places with her, I would have. It would have solved our problems—hers and mine. My father and I could have adjoining rooms, play checkers and go for walks up and down the lawn in our white pajamas. We could still listen to Revolver together.