But Kiley interrupted, as she always did.. “You know what? Don’t bother. What you’re going to say doesn’t matter to me anymore. I can’t…I can’t…” Kiley trailed off.

Sarah tried to say something that would make it better, fix it, but nothing came. She could only stand, silent, and watch as Kiley packed the bare necessities. “I’ll send someone for my stuff.” And Sarah couldn’t even find the words to answer that. The phrase marked the end of their time together, the end of everything, and still Sarah couldn’t find a single word to say.

Kiley pushed past Sarah, avoiding her eyes, and walked toward the door. “Kiley, wait,” called Sarah, surprised at the fragility of her voice. Kylie turned around, anger in her eyes. “You don’t get it, do you? I don’t want to talk about this, I don’t want to be here, I’m going whether you like it or not.” Sarah was again reduced to silence; she just stared as the door closed.

Sarah sat down on the floor and cried, her back against the wall. She had never felt so alone.