*Emmy*
“Dad, please,” I beg. “Don’t make me go back to school.
“It’s been a month,” he tells me. “You have to. They won’t excuse any more absences.”
My lip quivers. “You can homeschool me.”
“I have to work, Emmy,” he says, taking my hands. “They won’t be mean.”
“They will, though!”
He shakes his head, and I can see he’s growing angry. “You have to. End of discussion.”
Begrudgingly, I get into the car and let him drive me to school. I’m wearing a light blue skirt and a white shirt. It’s simple, but I’m sure Ava will still say something about it. The tightening I’ve felt in my chest begins again. It started when Mom got sick, and it hasn’t really stopped. I take a deep breath, trying to make it go away, but it won’t.
“It’s going to be a great day, Emmy,” Dad tells me with
