Madison turned back to her but couldn’t make out her expression in the darkness. She had said too much. “It doesn’t matter what I think. Let’s sleep now.”

Finally, Sherry slid down as well. “You can’t run away from the past, just like you can’t run from the present. Wherever you go, your memories follow you.” It sounded more as if she was talking to herself than to Madison.

An ex-waitress getting all philosophical? Really?

“I tried, you know?”

“You tried what?” Slowly, Madison’s eyes adapted to the darkness, and she could make out Sherry’s tense features.

Their gazes met.

“Running away from my life. When I was younger, I lost myself in books. Stories from faraway places or non-fiction books, which needed all my attention.” She hugged herself. “I told you that I didn’t have the nicest childhood. I forgot to mention that my mother is one of those alcoholics who turn violent after drinking too much.” Barely audible, she added, “I’m not even sure if she’s still alive.”

It wasn’t surprising that Sherry obviously hadn’t had any contact with this bitch. Then Sherry’s words registered completely. “She hit you?” Grandmother Eileen had never raised a hand to Madison. She had chosen other methods to discipline her. Perhaps a slap in the face wouldn’t have been so painful.

Sherry kept silent.

Madison was tired, mentally and physically, but maybe this was the only time Sherry would open up to her. Softly, she said, “Tell me. For our roles.” A quiet voice in her head told her that was just part of the truth, but she ignored it.

For a few seconds, Sherry watched her. Eventually, she said, “I’m not sure what hurt more. The beating or her telling me all the time how worthless I was and how much I had ruined her life.” She sighed. “I hadn’t thought of that in years, but when you told me about your dad and your grandmother, it came back to me.”

Unsure what to say to that, Madison kept silent.

“I don’t pretend to know how you feel about your parents or your grandmother, but I know how it feels to be blamed for everything bad in someone’s life.”

They came from different worlds. Their experiences weren’t anything alike. But… Don’t think about it. That will just give you a headache.

She was spared finding the right words to answer when Sherry turned away and wished her a good night.

“Night,” Madison mumbled, closing her eyes. She had revealed too much about herself. How had that happened?

Even though she felt bone-tired, sleep took a long time to come.

Chapter 12

Chapter 12