"It’s safer to maintain distance. Friends grow up; they change."
"They do, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to help. Why are you doing this?"
"You think I enjoy being this way?" Taylor exclaims. "I’m miserable, I can’t stop it, and I’m making everyone else miserable too. I barely recognize myself anymore. I’m trying so hard, but—" She holds her head in her hands. "It’s maddening, Gen, to want something desperately but be terrified of having it because you might lose it."
I have no idea what to say. I bite my lip. "I’m sorry."
"It’s not your fault, even though I yell at you all the time. No wonder you’re leaving. I’m surprised you haven’t kicked me to the curb yet. Who wants to be around a miserable person?"
"Taylor! That’s not—"
"I ran the 5K in Mom"s memory. They announced the e
