Page 173 of Bad Prince
“It’s… lonely at the top.”
Another pause.
Long.
Different this time.
Not sharp.
Not angry.
Just… thinking.
“Pues no estás sola.”(Well, you are not alone.)
Her voice softens again.
“You have us.”
I press my lips together.
“I know.”
“And we are proud of you.”
My throat tightens.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“No, mija,” she says. “No sorry. Just… don’t forget who you are.”
“I won’t.”
“Good.”
A beat.
“Your brother is asking for you,” she adds, lighter now. “And your sister—ay Dios—she thinks you are famous now.”
I huff out a small laugh.
“Put them on?”
We talk for a few minutes. But when I hang up—the room is still quiet. The loneliness doesn’t go anywhere.
A knock hits my door. Then it swings open before I answer.
Delia.
Two other girls behind her.
“Party,” she says simply. “Sigma house. Soccer team’s gonna be there. Whole campus, basically.”
I blink.
Normally, I already have my answer.
No.
