Page 33 of Sad Girl Hours

Chapter Thirty-three

Nell

“I need to tell you something,” Saffron says, tapping her free hand against her lap nervously, the other hand still on my arm.

“Of course,” I say, and I would be on the edge of my seat if I weren’t so damn scared about wobbling this godforsaken death cart in the sky. Please be about to say what I want you to say .

“My grandma didn’t die last winter.”

OK. Definitely not what I wanted her to say. Although… “Oh. I’m glad?”

“No, I mean she is dead, both of them are. They both died years ago. When I was a kid really.”

“I’m sorry for your losses?” I’m not sure where this is going.

“No.” She sounds exasperated. “Sorry, I’m saying this all wrong. I’ve been building it up in my head, and I’ve just convinced myself to do it, and I’m still getting it wrong.”

“Saffron, breathe.” I cover her hand with mine (mentally high-fiving myself for not clinging on to the pod any more). “You’re doing fine. Just … take your time.”