Page 21 of The Heart That Breaks
She glances out the school bus window, quiet for a moment, before she says, “Do you ever question why some people get better lives than others?”
I consider my answer. Something tells me there’s more than casual interest to the question. “Sometimes. Why?”
She shrugs. “I just wonder if maybe I did something wrong. Something that made me bad.”
“You’re not bad, Brandi. You’re a really good girl. Don’t let anyone make you believe otherwise.” I see the tears well up in her eyes, one slipping down her cheek.
She wipes it with the back of her hand, looks down as if she’s embarrassed.
“Did something happen, Brandi?”
She shakes her head quickly. “No.”
I put a hand on her arm. “Tell me.”
“I don’t want to.”
“What happened?”
“I’m just dumb. I never do anything right.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is true.”
“Who says?”
“My dad.”
“He’s wrong.”
“He wishes I’d never been born.” She looks down at her hands. “Sometimes, I do too.”
“Hey.” I turn in the seat to face her. “Don’t say that. You’re going to have a great life.”
“How?” she asks, looking over at me with new tears rising up. “How can someone like me have a great life?”
“Because you’re you. And I just know you’re going to do amazing things.”I turn her face to me. “You’re one of my favorite people in the whole world. I can’t imagine not having you in my life.”
“That’s nice, Ann-Elizabeth. No one’s ever been as nice to me as you.”
“Promise me something?”
“Okay.”
“Will you tell me if it’s not safe at your house?”
She nods a small nod. “But why?”
“You can stay with me.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“I wish I could. But my mom wouldn’t let me. Sometimes, I think she just likes having me there so my dad yells at me instead of her.”
I think of my own situation, wonder if there’s any similar truth. “No one should be yelling at you,” I say.
