Page 90 of The Secret to Belonging

prevents them from prying

Espen calls three times

you tell Lise you’re not feeling well

she takes messages

you didn’t think it would be possible

to miss your life back in Glendale

but you almost do

if you were home

you would pull out the original cast recording

of A Little Night Music

play Every Day a Little Death on repeat

love is disgusting

love is insane

instead

you sing the lyrics quietly to yourself

and cry

you don’t know what to do

you and Espen never explicitly talked

about monogamy

but it was fully implied

and still

he kissed her back, even if just a little

he kissed her back

you don’t know which is worse:

betrayal by your best friend

or by your great love

would forgiving him make you a doormat?

would trusting him make you a fool?

your parents have made a career

of forgiving and trusting your brother