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everything you’ll learn about art here.”
    “Vivian can teach me what I need to know. Anyway, you saw those paintings in there, and the way everyone took them so seriously.” She imitated one of the black-dresswomen. “See that red circle? The ragged edge portrays violence and betrayal. It just … speaks.” Frankie lowered her voice for this final word, a perfect imitation of the woman we’d overheard.
    I choked back laughter. “I wish I had your present here. I can’t wait for you to open it.”
    “Can’t you just stay with me?” Frankie asked.
    I took a deep breath trying to shape the thought that had been trying to come out — the thought I knew Frankie needed to hear — into words that would make sense. “Okay, don’t laugh at me.”
    Frankie must have heard the change in my voice because she turned to face me. “I won’t laugh. Promise.”
    “I don’t think I would have started drawing if hadn’t come to Owl Creek.”
    “But you already—”
    “Not like I did once I met Vivian. Drawing pulled me closer and closer to seeing …”
    “Seeing what?” Frankie asked, as the silence stretched long.
    My heart thudded against my ribcage as I tried to push out the words I’d known I would have to say at some point. I couldn’t quite force myself to speak.
    “Come on, Sadie. I promised I wouldn’t laugh,” Frankie said.
    “God,” I finally said. The name tumbled out of my mouth and fell between us as heavy as a stone. I was too afraid to look at her, too afraid to see her expression. Myfeelings were too private to talk about, but I knew Frankie needed to hear about my experience. As her friend, I had to tell her — no matter what she thought of me afterward.
    I pushed on, faster now, filling the silence with words. “When I drew, I felt something bigger than me, tugging at me. I probably always believed in God deep down, but I didn’t think about him much until I came to Owl Creek and all those bad things happened. It wasn’t only that I realized God exists, but I discovered he cares. I mean, when you really look at a snowflake and pay attention to all the fine details, you can’t help but see how much God must care. About everything. About us.”
    When I finally looked up, Frankie made an impatient gesture, worse than if she had laughed. “So you think bad stuff should happen to everyone? So God can prove he cares?”
    “No. I just think … I think when hard stuff happens, you realize you have help. Bigger help than you knew you had, and I think God’s help really matters. That’s all. It helps you keep going.”
    Frankie silently picked at her fingernail for a long time, and my heart felt like it was growing, expanding so much that soon it wouldn’t fit inside my body. I couldn’t catch my breath.
    “I don’t know if I believe in God, Sadie,” Frankie finally said. “But I’ll try to believe you — that something bigger out there is watching and helping. I really hope that’s true.”
    We sat there watching clouds drift across the night sky,white against the orange city glow, until Frankie’s mom burst through the door behind us.
    “Oh, Francesca, Sadie! I’ve been looking everywhere for you two. We should be getting home now.”
    For once, Frankie didn’t make a snide comment. She must be exhausted. I’d leave her present on her bed in the morning, and hopefully she wouldn’t wake up. I wanted her to have that surprise, at least — a small moment of happiness even though she’d be here on her own.

Chapter 8

Gone
    M y mouth tasted like moldy socks, my eyes were sticky at the corners, and I couldn’t feel anything in the lower half of my left leg, which seemed to be tucked up under my knee. Why was I sleeping sitting up? I blinked my eyes and cradled my foot as what felt like millions of bees woke up under my skin, stinging me until my eyes watered.
    “You okay?” Vivian asked from the seat next to me.
    “My leg’s asleep.” I had to lift it off the seat with my