Page 65 of Even in the Dark

Dylan:[unintelligible]

Dr. Morley:Sorry?

Dylan:Anger.

Dr. Morley:Anger. Okay. Did you want—

Dylan:Nope.

Dr. Morley:[laughs]. Got it. And what about since moving in with Phil and the rest of your family here? Going to school and living in Sandy Haven. What emotion comes to mind?

Dylan:Not sure.

Dr. Morley:Doesn’t have to be exact or anything. Just an emotion that comes closest to your overall feelings these past few weeks.

Dylan:I guess… Exhausted.

Dr. Morley:Okay. So, exhaustion is something you’ve been feeling a lot here. Just these past couple of days? Or would you say since moving in with your family?

Dylan:Since I moved here. Like, just… drained all the time.

Dr. Morley:You want to talk about that last one at all?

Dylan:No… Those kinds of questions are exactly what’s exhausting. The questions and talking about feelings all the time… it gets fucking tiring. All of it. I just want tobe.You get that?

Dr. Morley:Yes… I do. I can see how it would all build up and wear you down.

Dylan:Yeah, Eli got to go to prison. He doesn’t have to rehash and talk about any of this mess he created. Just closed the dooron all of it and he can just be.

Dr. Morley:Except Eli doesn’t get the silver lining I was just talking about. The chance to move past everything and do something else with his life. You do.

Dylan:[no response]

Dr. Morley:Also, Eli doesn’t get to hear my custom tailored motivational speeches.

Dylan:Like I said, seems like he’s the lucky one.

Dr. Morley:Smart-ass.

Dylan:Old timer.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Scarlett

On Sunday, I do something I’ve never done before.

I go to a comic book store.

I finished the fourthSleepwalkerissue I borrowed from Dylan by Saturday morning and was seriously tempted to go over and borrow more. That seemed a little overly eager, though, so I refrained. But by Sunday, I decide to take matters into my own hands. I head into Sandy Haven to Jays, the adorable local comic book store I looked up, that’s up a windy street in the historic town center. Yes. It’s crazy—me,going to a comic book store. But sitting in Dylan’s room on Friday night reading comics, of all things, was probably the most content I’ve felt in a long time. I went from being stressed to the hilt when I first showed up at his place and had to come up with a way to explain what the hell I was even doing there, to slipping into an easy state of total chill. The warm silence, the moon streaming through the skylight, the occasional flutter of a page turning; it all just felt so…easy.

It’s also the first time I’ve felt connected to Dylan. Like I uncovered a side of him that I actually get. Even though I never thought in a million years I would “get” anyone who chooses to spend hours reading comic books.

I meet Gavin at Hooks after hitting Jays and honestly, the meetup is kind of anticlimactic. It’s boring.He’sboring. Or maybe it’s just that we’re boring when we’re together. We have nothing in common. Nothing.Unless you count the fact that we both value our high positions on the social totem pole. But I’ve had relationships with guys like Gavin for a couple of years now, and I don’t remember finding them this depressing. Maybe because I was so focused on the climb to the top and the role those relationships played getting me there?

The thought of changing things up is scary, though. Maybe I’m crazy for considering messing with a formula that’s worked so well for years. Could be I’ll regret it if I call things off with Gavin so soon after we started dating. I haven’t been single for more than a couple of weeks since Grade Nine. Since Carter… whose texting continues to be radio silent, thank God. It’s on my mind a little less now, too, as the weekend passes with still no further attempts on his part to reach out. I doubt that’s the end of his texts, though.

Someone else who’s been radio silent? Dylan Braun. He doesn’t go to school on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Phil explains they want to make sure his hand has a chance to really heal. Keep him away from any situations that might incite a physical reaction likely to bust his fist up again and do even more serious damage. And I get it. They’re being smart. But selfishly, I’m itching to talk to him aboutSleepwalker.The story concept is way more cerebral than I ever expected from a dumb comic. Essentially exploring the concept of the human psyche and the intersection between dreams and reality. This isn’t some muscly dude in a cape and tights flying around beating upcackling two-dimensional villains. It’s so much more than that. And yes, I am totally here for it.

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