“Hey, Jake?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Do you ever miss school? Over breaks I mean.”

  “Are you joking?”

  “No, I’m serious!”

  “Why would anybody ever miss school? It’s boring and mandatory and stressful.”

  “Okay that’s fair, but I just… I don’t know. It gives me a chance to hang out with you and the others. Dad never lets me see you guys so I can only hang out when he’s at work, but it’s not like he can refuse to send me to school, right?”

  “Yeah, I feel you.”

  “But other than you guys, I guess I kind of just appreciate the structure of it all? I mean, it’s not that I like being told what to do all the time, you know that, but it’s just... easier than being left to my own devices, you know? I don’t have time to get bogged down by everything, and I can just sort of… coast.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever felt like that but I think I know what you mean, yeah.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “...”

  “Hey, are you alright? You seem really down today.”

  “Nah, just a lot on my mind is all. You shouldn’t worry so much.”

  “Oh. Okay, cool, I mean… I trust you.”

  “That means a lot.”

  “...”

  “...”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “It was my fault.”

  “Jake, we both know it was Kenny who-”

  “No, stop, stop, please just let me take responsibility for what I-”

  “Would you cut it out! She was my sister, and I’m telling you it wasn’t your fault, so just fucking drop it already.”

  “...”

  “...”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry, it’s just... frustrating.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Just promise me you won’t beat yourself up over this anymore. It isn’t helping.”

  “...”

  “Jake. I need you to promise.”

  “But…”

  “Please.”

  “Okay. I promise.”

  “Thank you.”

  “...”

  “...”

  “...”

  “Hey, Jake?”

  “Hm?”

  “I’m glad you're still here.”

  “Me too, Sarah.”