Page 182 of Fly's Path

Is it true? Did my father bribe my grandmother to keep us alive?

Why would he do that?

Why would a man who beat us up also fight to keep us alive?

What would have happened if he hadn’t?

Would she really have done it?

Would anyone have cared if two trash kids who lived in a shack disappeared?

Probably not. Just like they wouldn’t notice if I never came back from Urbium. Just like Fly didn’t notice I left. He’s probably relieved I disappeared without any fuss.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself.

You’ve made it through worse. You’ll make it through this.

The envelope…

I reach back in my bag and grab it out. Stacks and stacks of money fall out into my lap, and a letter flutters down on top of them.

Sheridan,

I know you’re probably wondering why this is in your purse. Simply put, family doesn’t let family suffer. Not when we can help. Your first instinct is probably going to be to want to give it back. But please, take the money and use it to make your life a little easier. I don’t know if it’s enough or not to make a difference, which gives me an excuse to come visit my sister very soon. How is the beach down there during the winter? Should I pack a bikini? Let me know.

Love isn’t a transaction…

Dahlia

Love isn’t a transaction…

Teenage Thoughts

Sheridan

Istop counting at ten thousand dollars. Who has ten thousand dollars just lying around their house to give to a friend? It’s not like she had time to drop by a bank.

Is she just that rich? Her husband does have a private jet.

So yeah, possibly, but they don’t live in a castle in the woods or like a mansion mansion.

This money…it’s too much. Way too much. I shouldn’t take it. But it would give me enough space to pay for the difference in Grammie’s medical care and find a place to live until I make enough to cover both.

My royalties are getting pretty close. I could pay her back. Would she take it?

Will she take it back now?

Probably not.

This is enough to give me a hand up. I shove the money back in the envelope and under the seat of my car and shove my partially used toilet paper roll in front of it. No one will look there.

Right now, I need to grab some food to survive on. Tonight is going to be spent in my car either way. There’s no way I could find a place on no notice.

I pull into a parking spot a bit away from the market and stop. There’s no point in bringing my purse in…I don’t need to be checked for shoplifting one more time. Just my wallet will do.

Rhys’ tattoo shop is hard to miss. I love the graffiti-painted walls and the logo on the door. Everything about her place screamsseen.

An intrusive teenage thought pops into my head.