I stomped up the stairs and ran to my bedroom, slamming the door behind me. I crawled into bed, still feeling the edge of hysteria through my tears. I had to focus on breathing slowly to calm myself down. God, why did you have to take Sam away from me?

There was nothing I could cling to, no one I could trust. Simon? I asked myself. No, I couldn’t do that to him. Just because I’m living in shit doesn’t allow me to drag someone else in with me for company.

About five minutes later the door opened a crack. “Steph?” Joe asked. “Can I come in?”

“Fuck off,” I...