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Echo

My head hangs low as I listen to theirlfriend, the one I wanted toacross from me But she isn’t here in my family home with me, no She smiles at my e because she caught et to me The problem is she’s deep within my skin, and I can’t replace her No matter how hard I try

“Echo,” my mother says

I look up at her and see pity in her eyes It’s one of the reasons I avoid days like this and prefer to spend time at Creed’s mother’s house There I don’t feel scrutinized, looked upon orry or hurt Here, I get every da and then more It hurts, butbefore standing, not caring whatI don’t want to listen to, anyway It was my fault I should have paide Their voices beco whispered on their lips like they don’t realize I can hear the can that’s for sure

“He just doesn’t know any better I mean, what is it that he even does?”

They don’t know because they have never cared to ask They knoork, and that’s the extent of their knowledge Assholes, the lot of thee, instead, I reach forthe trouble to grab a glass I intend to drink as much as humanly possible to drown out their voices if I have to be here tonight, which believe me is the last place I want to be

“He’ll come around”

I snort at that co head will I come around

Shoot me now

Taking another long swig, I put the bottle back just before my father walks into the roo the cabinet to see what I was doing

“Really, Echo? That whiskey is aged Couldn’t you have stuck with so that doesn’t cost me the price of my car?”

I snort back at hihell All eyes fall on me

My father walks up behindto have to start locking shit ahen he’s here”