Chapter 5

I stopped, holding Andrew's gaze.

"I wouldn't save you. Not in a million years."

Andrew's voice was a rasp. "Jessica..."

I looked away.

"Andrew, you're just... the worst."

Andrew's shoulders slumped, defeated.

...

After I got out of the hospital, I went home and changed the locks.

I used to think Andrew was end game, so I gave him my keys, letting him waltz in and out like it was nothing. That had been a big mistake. It turned out he was the very person who bit me in the back.

I straightened up Mom's photo again and dug into some pierogi in front of it. The ones Mom used to make were long gone. These were my own newbie attempts.

The dough was too thick, and they just fell apart in the pot. They were nothing like Mom's. Hers were delicate and stuffed full, and I could scarf down two heaping plates with no problem.

The more I munched, the more I felt like bawling. I mumbled to her photo, "Mom, you never got to try my pierogi. They're not as yummy as yours. Mom, I'm craving y