Half Life by Lillian Clark

Author:Lillian Clark [Clark, Lillian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2020-06-09T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

“Speaking of backpacking,” Marco says.

“Backpacking?” Sitting in the dark, parked at the curb in front of my house, everything above a whisper feels too loud. We lean against each other over the center console, neither of us in a hurry to move. No curfew, no need. I could stay out here all night if I wanted to. Go anywhere, do anything.

With his head resting on mine, I can feel Marco’s jaw move. “Yeah. Macaroni. Backpacking with my dad. Keep up.”

I breathe a laugh. “Got it.”

“When does your school start again?”

“Why?”

“Well, for the past few summers my friends Taylor and Remi and I have gone backpacking the week before school starts. Meaning next week. And, well.” He takes a deep breath. “Do you want to come?”

My lips still feel swollen, almost sore. I used to think that was fake, that you can feel kisses lingering on your lips. Turning to look out the window at my darkened house, I lift a hand to touch them.

No fires.

No pitchforks.

Not a single text or call.

She’s in there right now. I’m in there, as far as my mom’s concerned. School starts Monday, but “I” can still be there. I can go backpacking, be with Marco, and still do exactly what I’m supposed to do. I can be everything, have it all. And no one even has to know that it’s not all me.

So I turn back, meet Marco’s eyes, and say, “Sure, I’ll come.” Because I can.

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