Kijani gave Taylor a long blank stare, before muttering. "That's the most saccharine thing I've ever heard. Do I look like a five year old to you? No one above that age believes in things like that. The real world doesn't work that way. The people who are supposed to love you, or at least pretend, will be happy to pretend you don't exist. The people you grew up with who you were so sure had your back, will bail as soon as you stop being fun." She let out a laugh, but it was mirthless and bitter.

"I drove here. I lost count of the hours. If some random woman had waved at me, the first thought would be that she's crazy, not that she gives a crap about me." Despite all the anger in her words, her voice was shaking and her eyes were shiny with unshed tears.