Chapter 8

February 15

Seb: Where are you?

Tia: Jo, plz come back. We need you. Sade needs you.

D: Come back. Let us help you. You're not alone.

Seb: Where are you, bro?

Hector: Come home, brother. Get off the streets before it kills you.

I turn my phone off, tucking it away, and go back to drinking the rest of my forty, drowning in my own sorrow.

"I killed Dad." I take another drink and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.

"I killed him, and I don't even feel bad. I'd do it all over again." I let out a sardonic laugh.

"I wish you were here, Elisa. God, I wish you were here." I look up to the night sky, my tears ready to fall, but I hold them back for now.

"Why did you leave me?" I fall to my knees and lay my head down, feeling complete hopelessness turns into tears that rain down my face.

"I can't do this anymore. I can't." I let out a low-pitched sound of grief as I lay on my side next to Elisa's gravestone, praying my body will turn to ash and dissolve into the earth with her.