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HANNA
"Karly, what are you doing?" I ask, walking into her condo. Looking around at the sea of clothes that used to be a floor.
"I'm starting over!" She yells, tossing a handful of things into the trashcan, barely missing my head.
"Care to elaborate?"
"Yeah, I'm done being Karly, and I'm gonna change my name. Just start over."
I laugh, plopping down on top of everything on her couch, "I like Karly."
She doesn't respond, just stomps by me tossing a leather jacket into the trashcan, one I know that she loves. She's had that jacket since college.
I walk over to her pinning her forearm between my fingers, "Stop. What's going on?"
She stares at me, her breathing becoming more intense, she has panic attacks a lot, and I've seen Karly literally at rock bottom, so I'm hoping this isn't her spiraling again.
"I'm just tired. I'm tired of these clothes, tired of this house, tired of these little wrinkles here on my forehead."
I sigh, "Karly, you do not have wrinkles. Tell me what really happened."
She walks over to her bed, plopping down dramatically, "I just don't understand. Every guy I date only wants me because they think I'm a good time, a good distraction from everything else. I'm sick of being the distraction. I want to be more."
I sit down next to her, "Karly, you just haven't found the right guy yet."
She rolls her eyes at me, "Easy for you to say. You have two guys pining over you."
I pull her into a hug as her tears begin to fall, "Ashton called me the other day."
Wait. What?
"Ashton! What the hell, Karly?"
"I know," She sniffles, "I don't know why I answered."
"Me neither. No wonder you are throwing all your pretty clothes away."
She chokes out a laugh, "I've just spent so much time on Ashton it all feels wasted."
"Trust me when I say Ashton is and always will be a waste of time. He used you, Karly. He will continue to do that until you cut him off."
I wonder how long this has been going on, how long she's kept this a secret. Ashton is one big toxic hole that Karly falls in a few times a year. It never ends well, but every time he comes back, she lets him in. Her house and her panties.
"You need a good guy. Just be patient."
She yanks her auburn hair back into a ponytail, "You're right. I can't keep doing this. Ashton has fucked me up enough."
She shoves her phone in my face, "Go ahead, block his number. Quick, before I change my mind."
I cringe when I see the picture of them together displayed on the screen, "Done."
"Thanks, Han. So wanna help me clean this up?"
I roll my eyes at her, "I guess. Let's order a pizza or something, though. I'm starving."
"Just get me a salad," she sighs, "you know I can't eat that."
I give her a once-over and prepare for a scolding that she knows is coming.
