SPEAK

Chapter 16: Making Things Stop... Forever?

My mind raced through every possible reaction, each one more ridiculous than the last.

So, naturally, I did the only reasonable thing I could think of: I turned around, walked to the kitchen, and grabbed the pill bottle off the counter. I hadn't taken them in two days, mostly because I hated how these new ones made me feel-like a zombie trapped in my own body. Numb or sad, those were my choices. Fantastic, right?

Without saying a word, pun intended. I headed for the door, ignoring the awkward silence behind me and the burning questions I didn't want to deal with.

I needed air. I needed to get out of there before I did something I'd regret. So I stepped outside, the weight of the pills heavy in my pocket.

I was just walking, feet dragging along the sidewalk, with no real direction in mind. My head was a whirlwind, and I couldn't figure out where the hell I was going. I knew two people I could turn to-Hale and Liora-but that only made things worse.

Hale was a no-go. He was probably with his girlfriend, and honestly, I wasn't in the mood to hear him gush about her for the millionth time. Don't get me wrong, she's a total sweetheart, and if anyone deserves to be talked about like they're the best thing since sliced bread, it's her. But Hale? Hale takes it to a whole other level. He makes Shakespeare's sonnets look like grocery lists with the way he goes on and on. It's annoying as hell.

Then there's Liora... Yeah, that was another no. I was mean to her earlier, and I couldn't just show up at her door like nothing happened. She probably hated me now, and who could blame her? I hated me too.

So, naturally, I kept walking, my feet taking me toward Liora's house anyway. Stupid feet, what were they thinking? I knew this was a bad idea, but here I was, standing across the street from her place, trying to figure out what the hell I was doing.

I took a deep breath and turned around, ready to bail before she spotted me. But of course, because the universe loves to mess with me, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"Asha?"

I froze, every muscle in my body tensing up. Great, just great. I turned slowly, forcing a smile that probably looked more like a grimace.

Liora stood on her porch, arms crossed, looking at me with a mix of confusion and concern. "What are you doing here?"

I saw she was with her phone, so I pulled out mine and texted, "Uh, nothing," kicking at a pebble on the sidewalk like it was the most interesting thing in the world. "Just... walking."

Liora looked at her screen, raising an eyebrow. "All the way to my house?"

I nodded, shifting my weight from one foot to the other, suddenly feeling like I was standing on a stage with a spotlight on me.

Liora sighed, her expression softening. "You wanna come inside?"

I hesitated, my pride telling me to turn and run, but the exhaustion pulled me toward her front door. Before I could overthink it, I nodded

Liora gave me a small smile and stepped aside to let me in. "Liora, who is that? I told you not to be opening the door for just anyone!" Liora's mom's voice rang out, the sound of pots clattering in the background.

"It's Asha," Liora responded, her tone a mix of excitement and a bit of nerves.

In seconds, Liora's mom appeared in the hallway, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. She came over to me quickly, her face lighting up with warmth. "Asha, sweetie, it's so good to see you!" she exclaimed, pulling me into a gentle hug. "You know, I've been telling Liora she needs to invite you over more often. You're always welcome here, okay? Anytime you need anything, you just let us know."