I Let Her Ruin Herself Chapter 02
It was five in the morning. In another two and a half hours, we would be heading for school.
Taylor lived next door. We’d been in the same school district since we were kids, and our parents were always having barbecues or watching games together.
When we were little, the adults always told me, “Adrian, you’re more responsible than Taylor. Keep an eye on her for us.”
They said it so often that eventually, it started to feel like my job.
We took that greenway every day. Both our families had long since taken for granted that I would get her to school safely.
Today, I couldn’t leave the house with her.
I went into the bathroom and turned the shower as cold as it would go.
January in Pennsylvania was brutal. I stood under the freezing spray for nearly an hour, until my lips turned white and my teeth chattered uncontrollably.
After six, the fever set in.
At seven, my mom, Diane, pushed open my door to call me for breakfast. The second she touched my forehead, she snatched her hand back.
“Oh my God, Adrian, you’re burning up.”
“Mom, can I stay home today?” I asked, my voice already hoarse.
“You are absolutely not going to school. I’m not letting you walk into a classroom like this.”
She pulled out her phone to call the school’s attendance line.
“Robert!” she shouted downstairs. “Get the car. We’re taking him to the ER.”
My dad, who had been eating toast at the table, scarfed down the last of it, grabbed his keys, and hurried upstairs. Seeing I could barely stand, he slung my arm over his shoulder.
In the car, I gripped my phone tightly.
Finally, the screen lit up. A reply from Hannah Walker: *Got it. I’ll turn in your homework for you.*
Seeing that message, I closed my eyes and let the fever drag me under.