Page 64 (1/2)

She sees me

That was the reason why I was always able to believe in her

Even from childhood

Calliope could see me All my faults, weaknesses, and darkness She saw it, and she skipped and huside me She never abandoned me, and I couldn’t let her

“Wepicture, Ethan, but that does not ,” he had the audacity to say

“If your as so right, Lia this, only to run away to protect it?”

He just stared at ht, if his as better than my way, then as he in the shadows? InBut I couldn’t also just takewhatever the hell I liked “Your way only worked for you Your present is not the future I want Grand as she has—is what I want Why didn’t you pick up that trait from her?”

He was silent for a very long ti to think you really don’t think you picked up any of my traits”

“I did It’s the ‘never forgive a brother’ trait,” I shot back And any and all the amusement fell from his eyes

“Every day, I don’t know if I should be proud of the man you are or worried,” he said on his way out “I’ll keep thinking about it”

“Whatever you decide won’t changea seat back at Calliope’s bedside

I ho I was

They didn’t have to agree

They didn’t have a say

I wasn’t their child anymore