“Why?” The question comes out automatically. It doesn’t make sense.

Kicking a rock on the ground, she says, “It wouldn’t be fair to them.”

A crease forms between my brows.

“I’m like…a wildfire,” she says. “Right now, my fire is contained, but when I eventually start forgetting, I’ll torch everyone around me, and I’d prefer avoiding that.” With a lift of her shoulders, she adds, “I’ve been burned, and it’s not something I’d wish on anyone.”

What…

How can she see herself that way? Like no one could benefit from having her in their life. I’ve never heard something so untrue.

When she sees I’m about to tell her something, she stops me in my tracks and says, “I’m really thankful for this, though.” She pets the tree as if it’s one of her animals. “I promise I’ll decorate it.”

I lick my lips, tipping my head toward it. “If ever you need help with that, let me know.”

She looks down again. “Well, I better get going if I want to get the girls out before a mess happens.”

“Sure,” I say, my voice sounding strange. Popping her trunk open, I put the tree in, then close the door.

Right before walking over to the driver’s side, she gives me a hint of a smile and says, “Bye, Aaron.”

I open my mouth, but before I can find what it is I want to say to her, she’s inside the car. The wave she gives me is so quick I almost miss it. And in an instant, she’s driving away, never looking back.

Fuck.

I spend a few minutes looking the way she left, taking the time to calm down. When I get back inside, Ma might ask me questions, and I need to look okay.

Because in reality, I don’t have reasons not to be okay. This was always supposed to happen. Wren never signed up to stay in our lives forever.

Maybe she’ll contact me later. Or maybe I’ll grow some balls and contact her at some point.

With one last look toward the road, I walk back to the house, then hang my coat on the rack. As expected, the second I’m inside, Ma pops her head in the foyer and says, “¿Cómo estás?”

“Bien,” I answer, clearing of my throat.

She doesn’t say anything in response, which means even more than words. Ma never stays silent. She has the biggest mouth I know.

“It’s fine, Ma. She was a friend, that’s it.”

Again, she stays silent.

Fuck that. Without looking at her, I walk up the stairs. I don’t need to get her third degree tonight. Instead, I go to my office. Maybe I’ll be able to do some work tonight. Turn this shitty evening into something productive.