I’m a drug addict, right? A high-school-dropout embarrassment that you waste your time and love on and who just won’t go away.” “You’ve never chosen another girl over me.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, her eyes losing their focus. You know how much that means to me, what I’ve given up to do this.” The one you put me in? It’s a girl’s hoodie, and it smells sweet. “Is it because of her?” she asked softly. There’s no time limit, you’re paid for as long as you need to stay, but we can’t keep doing this.” I just end up down the rabbit hole with you, and I’m done. I closed my eyes and took a steadying breath. I know I could stay clean if you would just stay with me.” Her eyes turned to liquid pools, a trick she’d learned early on got to me. If I stay any longer, they’ll set me back a class, or worse, I’ll fail out.” I picked up her hand and gently squeezed her bony fingers. “I’m your home,” she protested in a soft whine. “I do have to go home tomorrow,” I said softly.

I chose to believe she was there, under the sagging skin and open sores, still my Anna, just a little worn at the edges. It didn’t matter what she’d done to herself she was permanently sixteen to me, more vibrant than any girl or woman I knew or had known since.

I cupped her cheek in my hand, running my thumb along her pocked skin. “No,” I answered, sitting next to her on the bed. “Are you leaving?” The panic that radiated from her eyes stopped me dead in my tracks. Her hair was pulled into a messy knot at the top of her head, and her T-shirt hung too large on her frame, making her seem younger than she was. She was still gaunt, even worse after going through withdrawals, but she was clean. Paul excused himself as Anna sat up, blinking the sleep out of her eyes.

Eyes Turned Skyward by Rebecca Yarros