He nodded toward the envelope.
I slowly undid the clasps and pulled out the contents. A stack of images. Pictures of Felix and Kennedy laughing outside Empire High. Felix was out of prison. And they both looked happy. I flipped to the next picture of them a little closer together. Were they dating now? That’s what Kennedy had wanted. I swallowed hard. Was that what my father was trying to show me? That my best friends were happier now that I was dead? I looked up at him.
“Keep looking,” my dad said.
I flipped to the next picture. It was of Matt and his friends. All the Untouchables back together. It looked like it had been taken in Matt’s backyard. I didn’t know how my father had gotten these pictures. But Matt was smiling with his friends. They all looked…so happy. Except for James. James usually had a frownon his face. But that was normal for him. The important thing about the photo was that they were all hanging out again.
Photo after photo after photo of the four of them looking happy. They were back to being best friends again. Since I was gone.
I swallowed hard as I came to the last photo.
Of Matt.
His arm slung around some girl I didn’t recognize.
“What is this?” I said, staring down at the picture of Matt. The girl beside him disappeared. All I could see was Matt’s face.
“To show you that everyone’s moved on, angel. And it’s time for you to.”
“He hasn’t moved on.”
My dad pointed to the girl. “I’m pretty sure they’re dating.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I don’t believe you. I don’t believe any of this.” I shoved the photos into his arms.
“Angel…”
“Don’t angel me! I’m not an angel!”
“Brooklyn.” He reached out to me.
“What are you trying to do to me?” Tears started streaming down my cheeks. “Are you trying to break me?”
“Of course not. I just want you to know that it’s okay to be happy without the people you left behind.”
“I didn’t leave them behind! You took them from me. You stole my life!” I started sobbing.
My dad put the pictures back down on the couch and stood. He tried to hug me but I stepped back.
“I don’t know what you’re doing. But trying to prove to me that everyone I love is happier without me? What is wrong with you?”
“I’m trying to show you the truth.”
“They’re snapshots. This doesn’t mean they don’t miss me. And one picture of Matt with some random girl doesn’t mean he stopped loving me!”
“I think it’s best if I leave these here for you to look through when you’re not acting hysterical.” He turned to leave.
Hysterical? God, he hadn’t seen hysterical. “Just because my mom didn’t choose you doesn’t mean true love doesn’t exist.”
He turned back to me. “That boy never loved you. And your supposed friends? They’re happier that you’re dead. Believe the pictures or not. But I’m the only one who still loves you.”
“This isn’t love.” I gestured between us. “You’re torturing me.”
“I’m saving you.”
“No. Saving me isn’t keeping me locked up. Saving me is getting Isabella help. She needs help, Dad. And keeping me here isn’t helping her. It’s enabling her.”
He shook his head. “All I’ve ever done was help you. I pulled you out of the slums. I gave you everything…”
