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FIFTEEN. memory is punishment
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Two months passed since Silas Adler died. It was the worst two months of her life. Hannah offered to let her stay with her and Monty. The Greene family was always accepting of her. She cried most nights, some quiet and some loud. She had nightmares. She'd cry for her father. Other days she wouldn't sleep at all.
She hardly left the bed. Her friends did everything to try and make her feel better, but it was hopeless. Tatum felt empty inside. She barely interacted with people. She just wanted to alone.
She sat by herself in the mess hall, picking at her food, with, with head rested on the palm of her hand. She for sympathetic stares from everyone in the room and it made her skin crawl.
A boy came and sat across from her, startling her. She recognized him from the Ark. Riley Evergreen. His hair was dark and messy and his eyes were dark brown. He had moles dotted on his face. "Hi." He spoke first with a smile.
Tatum looked around them before sitting up straight. "Hi." She awkwardly replied.
"I saw you sitting alone. You're Tatum, right? I heard about your dad dying. I'm really sorry."
She blinked and looked at her plate of uneaten food. "Um, yeah, it's okay. Thank you." She said timidly.
He nodded slightly. "You know, I hate seeing people sit by themselves. So if you need anyone to talk to, or just someone to sit here with you, I can be that guy." He said to her kindly. He stuck out his hand. "I'm Riley Evergreen."
Tatum stood frozen, like her muscles were locked. "Riley." She uttered with a shaky voice. She thought she was in a nightmare. He was grinning at her and it chilled her bones until they hurt.
He was wearing the clothes he had on the night she killed him, but they were fresh and clean, like that night never happened. "Hey, Blue Eyes." He spoke.
Finn gave her that nickname first. Then it traveled his way, and it made her sick every time she heard it. She hadn't heard his voice in so long. He took a step forward only for her to take another step back. "Don't be afraid, Tatum. It's just me." He said sinisterly.
