جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 135

Ivy's Pov I reached for a carton of eggs, making sure none were cracked. "Do we have enough milk, Ivy?" Marcus asked from the next aisle over. "I think so," I called back. "I checked the fridge before we left." I was acting calm compared to the turmoil within me as I stood in the middle of the store. Everything about the morning led me to one thing: I was finally out in the world again. "Ivy? Is that... is that really you?" I froze. I stood before a massive display of red apples. I turned around slowly. "Chloe?" I said. "Oh my god, it is you. I heard you moved away," Chloe said. She was fidgeting with her purse. "I did. I'm back for a bit," I replied. My hand on the cart tightened. "You look different," she said. Her eyes swept past my face. "I mean, you look good. Healthy." "I am healthy. Finally." "Ivy, look," Chloe stepped closer. "I’ve thought about you a lot. About high school." "You don't have to do this, Chloe. It's fine." "It’s not fine! I was a tool for tho

Ivy's Pov I was standing by the window, watching the mail truck drive away from the curb. "Ivy, is that the mail?" Marcus asked from the couch. "I think so," I said. "I'm going to go get it." "You look like you've seen a ghost," he said. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine. I just... I think it’s from him." I walked outside and felt the cold air on my face. I had told myself that I was ready for this, but my hands were shaking as I pulled the letter out. He was implying in his last message that he would come if I asked, and now the paper was right here. I felt like I was just a tool for my own nerves for a long time. I wanted to tell the world that I wasn't the same girl he left behind. I only wanted to show him I was strong now. But how ironic my life had turned out. What was happening now was exactly how I wanted my new chapter to start. Before, I was also just a tool to save his feelings—his ego and his heart—from being broken by the truth of our situation. Only this time, I

Ivy's Pov I pushed the screen door open and stepped onto the porch. He froze, his head snapping up to look at me. He looked tired, but his eyes were clearer than I had ever seen them. "Ivy," he said. He sounded like he had been holding that name in for a long time. "What are you doing here?" I asked. I had told Marcus that I was done with my past, but I didn't feel like I was telling the truth anymore. He was sure I could move on, but seeing Dominic there made my resolve feel like it was melting. I felt like I was no longer just a tool for my own independence. "I came to see you," he said, walking slowly toward the porch steps. "I had told my therapist that I might be too late, but he said it didn't matter how long it took as long as I showed up. He was sure that if I was honest, you’d at least hear me out." My eyes stung as I tried to keep from tearing up as he reached the bottom step. I could hear the sound of the wind in the trees, a distant lawnmower, and the chirping of c