Read Never Too Far for Free Online

graveyard.Itwouldnevermakethetripagain.”
    Bethynoddedandcrankedupthecarthenpulledoutontotheroad.“Youcanstaywithme
    aslongasyouneed.Orlonger,”shereplied.
    “Thankyou,”Isaidbeforelayingmyheadbackontheseatandtakingadeepbreath.What
    wasIgoingtodonow?

    ThesmellofbacongotthickerandthickerthemoreIinhaled.Itwasasifbaconwastaking overmysenses.Mythroatconstricted.Mystomachrolledfromtherichsmellofit.Thegrease sizzledsomewhereinthedistance.BeforeIcouldcompletelygetmyeyesopenmyfeetwere onthefloorandIwasrunningtothebathroom.
    LuckilyBethy’sapartmentwasn’tbigandIdidn’thavefartorun.
    “Blaire?”Bethy’svoicecalledfromthekitchenbutIcouldn’tstop.
    DroppingtomykneesinfrontofthetoiletIgrippedtheporcelainseatwithbothhands
    andbeganthrowingupeverythinginmystomachuntilnothingbutdryheaveswrackedmy
    body.EverytimeIthoughtIwas inishedI’dsmellthebacongreasemixedwithmyvomitand itwouldbeginagain.
    IwassoweakmybodytrembledasItriedtovomitandnothingelsewouldcomeup.Acold
    washclothwasinmyfaceandBethywasstandingoverme lushingthetoiletandthenleaning mebackagainstthewall.
    I held the cloth over my nose to block out the smell. Bethy noticed and closed the bathroom door behind her. After she turned on the fan she put her hands on her hips and stared down at me. The disbelief on her face confused me. I got sick. What was so strange aboutthat?
    “Bacon?Thesmellofbaconmadeyouhurl?”Sheshookherhead,stillstaringatmeasif
    shecouldn’tbelieveit.“Andyouweren’tgonnatellme,wereyou?Youwerejustgonnaput yourcrazyassonsomedamnbusandrideaway.Allbyyourself.Ican’tbelieveyou,Blaire.
    Whathappenedtothesmartgirlthattaughtmenottoletamanuseme?Hmmm?Wherethe
    helldidshego?‘Causeyourplanheresucks.Likebad.Youcan’tjustrunoff.Youhavefriends here.You’regonnaneedfriends…andI’dhopethatyouintendedtotellRushaboutthistoo.I knowyouwellenoughtoknowthatthisishisbaby.”
    Howdidsheknow?Ijustthrewup.Lotsofpeoplegetviruses.“It’savirus,”Imuttered.
    “Don’tlietome.Itwasthebacon,Blaire.Youweresleepingsopeacefullyonthecouchand the minute I started cooking the bacon you started making weird noises and tossing and turning.Thenyoushotofflikeabullettopukeyourgutsout.Notrocketsciencebaby.Getthat shockedlookoffyourface.”
    Icouldn’tlietoher.Shewasmyfriend.Possiblymyonlyonenow.Ipulledmykneesupto mychinandwrappedmyarmsaroundmylegs.Thiswasmywayofholdingmyselftogether.
    When I felt like the world was breaking around me and I couldn’t control it I always held togetherthisway.
    “That’swhyCaincamehere.Hecaughtmebuyingpregnancytestsyesterday.Iknowthat’s
    why he came here. To ask Rush… to ask about the relationship between Rush and me.It’s somethingIrefusedtotalktoCainabout.Ididn’twanttotalkaboutRushatall.ThenIwas late.Twoweekslate.IthoughtI’dbuyacoupleoftestsanditwouldcomebacknegativeand everythingwouldbeokay.”Istoppedmyexplanationandrestedmycheekagainstmyknees.
    “Thetests…theywerepositive?”Bethyasked.
    Inoddedbutdidn’tlookupather.
    “WereyougonnatellRush?Orwereyoureallygonnajustrunoff?”
    WhatwouldRushdo?Hissisterhatedme.Hismotherhatedme.Theyhatedmymother.
    AndIhatedmyfather.ForRushtobeapartofthisbaby’slifehe’dhavetogivethemup.I couldn’taskhimtogiveuphismomandsister.Eveniftheywereevil.Helovedthem.Andhe wouldn’tgiveupNan.I’dalreadylearnedthatwhenitcametomeorNan,he’dchooseNan.He hadupuntiltheend.WhenI’dfoundouteverything.He’dkepthersecret.He’dchosenher.
    “Ican’ttellhim,”Isaidquietly.
    “Why is that exactly? Because he’d want to know and his ass needs to be a man and be thereforyou.Thisrunningoffshitisstupid.”
    Shedidn’tknoweverything.Sheonlyknewbitsandpieces.IthadbeenNan’sstorytotell andnooneelse’sinRush’seyes.ButIdisagreed.Itwasmystorytoo.Nanstillhadbothher parentsandherbrother.Ihadnoone.Mymotherwasdead.Mysisterwasdead.Andmyfather