by McKayla Box
“You are far more than your mother's daughter,” she says. Her voice and expression are the same: tender but firm. “No matter what anyone else believes. I know better because I've seen it. You are not her, and I will not let you believe anything else. You have great things in store for you. It may sound strange to hear me say this, but you are a far better human being than your mother and I have no doubt you will prove me correct.”
I sigh. “Thank you for saying that.”
“Don't thank me,” she says. “It's the truth.” She leans down and kisses my forehead again. “I'll see you in the morning. Try to sleep.” She leaves and closes the door behind her.
I focus on the ceiling again.
I appreciate her words, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to believe them. Maybe some day, but not right now.
Right now I’m devastated.
Right now I’m feeling like life as I know it is over.
Because it is.
But I know that this ordeal isn’t over. Far from it.
I can't run and hide. On Monday, I'll be back at school and I'll have to deal with all of it.
No matter how much I want to run and hide.
I'll have to find a way.
I take a deep breath and slowly exhale.
Because Archer was wrong.
And so was I.
You can't always walk away.
I'm going to have to walk right into it.
I just don't know how I'll do it.
Thanks so much for reading BURNED, the second book in the Del Sol High series. Can't wait to find out what happens next? You can pre-order the third and final book in the series, ECLIPSED, right now by clicking right here.