“But you are already normal,” Eazy cut in. Morgan smiled because she knew he meant it.

“Thanks, Eazy,” Morgan signed. “You’re the best, you know that?”

He smiled and quickly removed his iPad from his backpack. It was just that easy of a decision to him. She was Mo’ Money, his aunt, but more like a sister. He loved her without alteration. She wished she could see herself through his eyes. He zoned out, as Morgan turned to Bella.

“He’s right, you know?” Bella signed. “You’re already normal, Mo. You don’t have to fix yourself because nothing’s broken. You’re the coolest chick I know. I wish my dad looked at me the way he looks at you. You can do no wrong.”

Morgan gave a weak smile. Validation from them wasn’t enough to make her feel secure. They were only kids; and although Bella was starting to grow up, she was biased. They were her family and couldn’t see the flaws that the world would magnify.

“I thought you liked the fact that you could block out the world?” Bella signed.

“Now, I just want to be a part of it,” Morgan signed back. She started the car and put her hand on the gearshift. She felt Bella’s hand on top of hers and she looked up at her.

“I love you. We all do,” Bella said.

“I know,” Morgan signed back. She placed her hand over her heart and gave Bella a wink, before pulling off. She had an important decision to make. She wanted to believe that she was motivated by the right reasons, but only one reason came to mind…Messiah. This was about a boy. This was about her best friend getting the guy - not because she was cuter or smarter or better, but because she could hear. For once in her life, she wanted someone to not only be fascinated by her, but to choose her. She headed straight to Ethic’s shop. She knew she would find him there, under the hood of a car, putting in work for no reason because he didn’t need the money at all. He had gone into the shop every day since her rape, and she felt like he couldn’t even look her in the eyes anymore. When they arrived, she hopped out the car, taking the brochures for the procedure out her hobo bag, rushing into the shop with Eazy and Bella in tow.

“Daddy!” Eazy yelled, in excitement, as soon as he saw Ethic leaning over the engine of the old-school Buick.