I don’t want to be a burden. I don’t. But I can’t live this life anymore. It’s too much.

I try to steady my breath. “I have to get out of here, and I’m going to need everybody’s help.”

There’s a slight pause. “Oh, Ally, we thought you’d never ask.”

Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter

FORTY-TWO

Once Old Ally surfaced, she wasn’t going to be buried again.

After Marian and Neil left, I didn’t have anything to look forward to. My calendar was an endless sea of blank days I had to survive. But then I had a goal, a plan.

I had to get through fifteen days.

Day by day, I went through the motions.

Breakfast, school, homework, dinner.

Paula and I were polite to each other, but cool. Sarah and Craig tried to talk to me, to make things better, but I simply replied that everything was “fine” and “okay.”

Breakfast, school, homework, dinner.

I sat at the dinner table and nodded along with everybody’s stories. I’d answer questions about school when asked. But I wasn’t really there anymore.

Breakfast, school, homework, dinner.

I had an end game. It made the charade that much easier.

Breakfast, school, homework, dinner.

And now the day I’ve been waiting for arrived.

This is my final performance as The Good Daughter. I’m going to smile, play along, and let Paula have her moment. This is for her. It’s the last thing I’m doing for her.

Paula is fluttering around the room, chatting with people and laughing. She’s the belle of the ball, while Sarah and I sit on a couch, both on our phones.

Sarah looks up at her mom. “Look at her! She can’t concentrate on one person for too long. You’d think this was her birthday party.”

Paula goes over to hug … I think it’s my cousin Molly, but I’m not sure. I’m too embarrassed at this point to ask who people are again. I only remember Randy since he’s the one who always comes up to me to talk about my “fame.” He already cornered me earlier, telling me I need secure a book deal now because “interest is waning.” Those three words were the best things I’ve heard come out of his mouth. Oh, he also offered to be my manager.

Yeah, I’m going to pass on that one.

“There you are.” Grandma Amanda sits next to me on the couch and gives me a kiss on the forehead. “I know you said you didn’t want any presents.”

“Can you believe it?” Sarah says. “Everybody here owes her like years’ and years’ worth of presents.”

That was my only request for today that was actually taken into consideration. At this point, Paula and Craig have given me too much.

Grandma Amanda hands me a tiny wrapped box.

“You shouldn’t have,” I reply.