CHAPTER 31: DEAD LANA

Isla

Stephanie spoke about her cousin Amelia and how she was the only family she had left. Her family was killed in a storm, and we bonded over the struggles of growing up alone.

The kids warmed up to her, and even let her touch their sacred toys.

I know a part of them was excited to meet a new person.

It tends to get boring when it was just mummy, daddy and Cindy, and Mrs Hill, who was still in the clinic.

And a part of me was excited too. I also could use a new friend. And a distraction. And she was perfectly both.

I hardly had any back in the city, and the people here hated me.

But Stephanie seemed genuinely happy to be here, and I wasn't going to chase her away.

"Ugh, I really do need new clothes." I huffed as I stared at my reflection in my wall mirror. My clothes were getting old, that was what wear and tear could do to someone's clothes. I never anticipated staying here for a month and more, and all our clothes were becoming old.

Stephanie was on my bed, playing with her phone.