Page 143 of The Design of Goodbye

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The next morning, I drove to The Fresh Market. Liam wasn’t there. Olive told me Liam was out sick with the flu. I tried tobelieve her.

But I couldn’t.

chapter fifty

That night, I drove to Liam’s armed with chicken soup, Gatorade, and medicine. I knocked. He didn’t answer. I rang the doorbelland waited.

I heard no movement, no footsteps.Nothing.

I knocked again.

He never answered.

January

chapter fifty-one

Winter break ended. Liam didn’t show up to school.

chapter fifty-two

Liam was out thewhole week.

I almost told my dad, but I felt tethered to the promise I’d made Liam. Ipromisedmyself I’d tell my dad everything if Liam didn’t show up to school on Monday.

chapter fifty-three

Something startled me awake Saturday night. I thought it was Thimble, but he was curled near my pillow, fast asleep.

And then I heard it.

Someone was knocking on my window.

chapter fifty-four

Liam was kneeling in mywindow well.

I opened my window, and a burst of cold air mixed with relief entered my room.

When he didn’t move, I said, “Get in here.”

He stumbled as he crawled through. I was worried he was going to fall, so I hovered by him until he was safely in my room.

I hugged him but quickly pulled away.

“You’re freezing.” He was wearing a long-sleeve shirt, sweatpants, and shoes. That was it. “Where’s your jacket?”

He shrugged.

I moved him to my bed and wrapped him in a blanket. He didn’t say a word. He looked awful. Face red, lips slightly blue and chapped, right cheek scraped and bleeding.

“Are you okay?” I rubbed comforting circles on his back, trying to warm him. He was violently shivering; it terrified me.

He still didn’t speak.

I kneeled in front of him, trying to meet his gaze. “Do I need to get my dad?”

“No.” Teeth chattering, it took him a few attempts to say, “Cold.”

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