Chapter 17

SOFIA.

I had never felt more queasy. My insides were coiling, and it felt like my intestines wanted to strangle each other. I sipped more wine, hoping that the sweetness would cut me some slack. But nothing happened. I wanted to turn my insides out. I didn't know I would be this shaken. I thought I was ready. I had practiced.

My hands were shaky as I sipped the wine slowly. He wasn't being too harsh. He asked questions like any normal person would. I was being a coward. It'd been eight long years. I didn't know why it still affected me so much. It made me look like I couldn't do without the pity. And I didn't want the pity. It didn't help.

When the news spread while we were younger, my classmates became nicer to me. They'd each offer an apple or a sandwich every day, not that I was starving, just to show how much they cared. Olivia would happily collect these and stick them in her bag, while I blatantly refused.

My teachers were extra nice too. Asking me if I needed time out of every