Home Entertainment Game Technology Advertisement Part 2: For eight years, my parents made me leave the house every time my brother brought his fiance over; Mom said, “She comes from a good family, don’t embarrass us”; Dad added, “Just disappear for the weekend”; I did; then one weekend, I never came back; it took them four years to find out where I went.

She sat beside me.

"Stacey?"

I kept my eyes on the soil.

"Nina died."

Avery's face changed.

"Detective Grant told me."

I swallowed.

"She was nineteen."

My voice cracked.

"Just like me."

Avery reached for my hand.

"I know."

I stared at the little plant.

"For years, I wondered what was wrong with me."

I could barely speak.

"My parents said I was too unstable to work. Too confused to make decisions."

Tears filled my eyes.

"And every time I started feeling better, they said I was becoming difficult."

Avery squeezed my hand.

I looked at her.

"What if I wasn't sick the way they said I was?"

She didn't answer immediately.

Then whispered, "Then you deserved help, Stacey. Not a life built around keeping you silent."

I began crying.

Avery wrapped her arms around me.

And for the first time in years, I let myself grieve for the girl I'd been.