: Part 3 – Chapter 21

Blue looks at my backpack, the new pink suitcase she bought me at Goodwill. Everything is packed. Her mouth turns down a little.

“I can’t believe you’re going,” she says quietly.

“I know.”

“I mean, I think it’s good. It’ll be good. But I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you.” I take her hand.

“Felix has a computer?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll Skype me? Once a week?” Her eyes are intent, pleading.

“Yes, definitely.”

“What about a phone? Will you get a cell?”

“I can’t afford that. He has a phone, I can use that.”

“You’ll call me all the time, you’ll call me and give me his number, right? And I’ll come visit. That’ll be fun. Like once a month, okay?” She’s breathless.

Her fingers tighten around mine. “Yes, Blue.”

“You’ll find meetings? I’m going to start going with Linus.”

“Yes, I promise.”

“Okay,” she says at last. Her eyes start to brim.

“Okay,” I say.

“We have to hold on to each other, Charlie. We can’t let go.” Tears splash down her face.

“No,” I answer, my throat tight.

“We aren’t like other people.”

“No.”

“You’re my family now. I’m yours. Do you understand?”

This last part she says into my hair, because now she’s hugging me, tightly, and I don’t want her to stop, ever.

Yes, I tell her. Yes.