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3 Years

43 Weeks

2 Days

When I was nine, Dad packed up and left It was clear and sunny I earing overalls and the air sot in the cab and it sped away I tried to run after hiht et hard, people leave Not that I blah to deal with, and sap your energy and time and attention So people leave, because it’s easier, and they can use that ti that isn’t so difficult Dad left because Mo me, and they were constantly shortme It was stressful for him, and her But that was because of me Mostly it was my fault They’d be happy if they didn’t have uts to say sorry to either of thee I’m older I don’t need theirl who tried to run after the cab

The sun tries to chokeup at two every day means I’m a rockstar Or a zombie Possibly both Rockstars do cocaine and cocaine is basically zo to college and I know so s I’ll be fine

"Isis?" There’s a knock onabout drugs? Are you doing pot, young lady?"

I jump out of bed and throw on jean shorts, and s the door open Dad’s disproving face stares down at e, his eyes the same warm brown as mine

"Oh yeah, I’ve drunk three wholeso him and prance downstairs, past dozens of family portraits The walls are clean and white, and the carpets plush The banisters are shining cheery wood, and the flight of stairs leading down isout of Cinderella

"There you are, Isis! Good "

"And there’s the wicked stepmother," I elic to Wicked, she is definitely a four, which is like, Absently Selfish or souys who blast their car bass way too loud when you’re trying to sleep I just call her wicked because it ood

Kelly looks up from the entrance hall, blonde and blue-eyed, rists like a thornbush and enoughqueen I’ve never seen her undone and ht and not even on Sundays She’s nearly seven nant, but even then she looks like she walked out of a Sears catalog I have a sneaking suspicion she’s an android, but I haven’t found her battery charger yet

"There’s croissants for breakfast, and I made your favorite – whipped creaht? Your father said it was"

"Yup I loved those When I was, uh, four" I grin until it beco about who I ah all that Martha Stewartian effort! But I’ve got other breakfast plans"

"No, you don’t" She says lightly

"Uh, yes, I do With friends"

"Which friends? You don’t have friends here in Georgia"

"I’ll have you know I have friends all over the space-time continuu powers Do you like fireballs? I hope so Because they don’t especially like people calling me friendless"