“Dharma?” said Wynezra. “That’s the name of the evil corporation on the TV show Lost.”

I stared at Wynezra until her straight face splintered into a smirk.

“It’s a principle in Buddhism,” she said. “And Hinduism. And a bunch of other Isms. It’s basically a way of living that keeps you in sync with the cosmic order of things. It’s perfect alignment.”

“So, like, being a good person?”

Wynezra rolled her eyes. “Sure. Being a good person. Let’s go with that. But I know where you’re going with this, and let me just stop you right there because who the hell is anyone to say what ‘being a good person’ even means?”

“I’m not saying Carol deserves kindness. But that’s the point of kindness—giving it when it’s not deserved. You and Carol both lost someone you love, and even though it was seven years ago, I know it still hurts. I’m just saying. I think people are more than what they do and don’t deserve.”

“You think you’re so much better than me, don’t you?” said Wynezra. Her eyes narrowed into dangerously thin lines. “Don’t you ever talk to me about my mom again.”

Wynezra turned and stormed out the glass exit doors into the fluorescence-stained darkness.

I found Wynezra sitting on the curb, hugging her knees—my knees—in a tight, furious ball. I sat down next to her.

“Jayden told me to tell my sister to stop being a bitch,” I said. “He did it right in front of both of us. And he patted me on the shoulder when he said it. Like I was his buddy, and I was in on the joke. And I just let it happen.”

Wynezra said nothing.

“I don’t know how it is in real life,” I said, “but in the movies, big brothers always protect their little sisters. And I’m like the exact opposite of that. I just let things happen because I’m such a fucking coward. You can only claim to care for someone so much when your lack of doing anything about it speaks so much louder. I’m so desperate for Willow’s validation, but really, I don’t deserve it. I’ll be honest: I’m jealous of you when you’re in my body. You’re such a cooler version of me. Like, in theater, when Jayden was being an asshole to Willow, and you called him a… a fucktrumpet? And you made fun of his shirt and his ‘knobby little nipples’?” I air-quoted. “And the most painful part was how much Willow seemed to instantly respect you.”

Wynezra was finally looking at me.

“Truth is, I’m pathetic,” I said. “I’m pretty sure ‘being a good person’ is impossible when you’re as pathetic as I am. When you’re too much of a coward to stand up for the people you care about.”