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I turned to see Willow looking at me. The rest of the group was still some feet away, talking.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.”

I turned away.

I needed some air.

Yes, I know I was already outside.

I just needed some air away from this moment.

I started walking through the crowd.

“Rave? Where are you going?”

“To get some air.”

“Raven-”

“I’ll be right back.”

“I can come with.”

“No, that’s okay.”

I breathed out.

“You guys go ahead and start going in the haunted houses, I’ll catch up after.”

She looked at me.

“Okay, I will come find you if you’re gone too long.”

I smiled at her.

“Thank you.”

I didn’t wait.

I walked until the lights of the carnival faded behind me.

Until the music became distant.

Until the screams sounded like they belonged to another world.

I glanced around, realizing I walked to the wooded area that I was in my first year coming here.

Figured.

I sucked in a breath as I stopped beneath a tree.

“You’re an idiot.”

I kicked at a rock.

My chest hurt.