When they looked at me, they saw a God.

When I looked in the mirror, I saw a scared girl.

When she looked at me, she saw a nervous wreck.

The only person who had ever understood me. Jordan Archer.

That day, we sat together on a picnic blanket.

Jordan's brown eyes slanted to my own. "Hey."

I looked up. "Yeah?"

"When are you going to tell them to fuck off?"

I blinked. "Who?"

Jordan sat up straight. "You know damn well who I mean. Those pieces of shit that abuse you!"

A small smile spread over my lips and I took her hand. "They don't abuse me. I lend them my power."

She scowled at me. "You let them take advantage of you."

"They're my followers. What else am I supposed to do?" I asked, confused.

Her chest rose and fell with effort, like she was angry. She pulled her hand out of mine.

"Give it up."

My gaze snapped to hers. "I can't do that and you know it. Without me, my followers would have nothing."

"Then let them!" She yelled. "I don't care! Just don't leave me!"

Her eyes and nose were red, and her chest heaved. She raked a hand through her hair.

My face softened. "I won't leave you. I'll be here in spirit."

"I don't want just your spirit." Her voice was quieter, shaky. "I just. . .can't do this without you. Please, don't let them take you from me."

Her lower lip quivered slightly, and she turned away.

I scooted closer and put my hand on her cheek, pulling her gaze back to mine. "Jordan, I. . ." I trail off. Really, I have no words of comfort for her. I have to leave her, whether I want to or not.

A man came then.

"My lady, we have to depart now."

I looked at him. Then back to Jordan. She sniffled and wiped her nose.

"Go. Wouldn't want to keep your precious followers waiting." There was a painful bite to her words.

"One moment," I said to the man. He nodded and left. I turned to Jordan. "You're the only one who ever treated me like a person. Not a god, not a disappointment, but a human being."

A tear streaked down her face, and I wiped it with my thumb. "So, why are you going?"

My heart twisted. "Because I have to."

Tears pricked my eyes.

She put her hand on mine. "No, you don't."

I kissed her then, because if I didn't, she would convince me to stay. I kissed her deep and then ran. Ran away into the sunlight and didn't look back.

That day, when she ran and never looked back, I thought I'd fall apart.

Somehow, I managed to stay together, though not without consequences. Now, I was on at least two mental health medications.

I still thought of her every day. I still cried every night.

But I was doing better.

I had a best friend. Dominic. I had a job at a Wendy's.

And still, I found myself staring up at that stupid grey expanse over my head.

I knew she was up there, answering prayers and doing godly paperwork. I wondered if she was happy without me.

Then Dominic tapped my shoulder. "Watch your step."

I looked down and saw a water puddle. I jumped into it, splashing mine and Nic's pants.

He groaned and I laughed. "You always do this."

"Because it's funny," I said, and walked away. He jogged up beside me.

"You seem to be getting lost in the sky more often now. Is this some new thing, or have you always been like this?" he asked.

I shrugged a shoulder. I didn't want to trouble Dominic with my relationship problems, considering he had his own.

"How's the romance going, by the way?" I said in an attempt to change the subject.

He frowned and bit the inside of his cheek. "Meh."

"Usually that means bad," I pointed out.

"Not bad," he said. "Just. . .not splendidly."

I sighed. Nic and his social troubles. "If you don't tell him, I will."

Nic gave me a flat look and then went back to kicking a rock. It scampered over the pavement. "Garcia's just not into me."

I raised a brow. "Not into you, eh? Is that why I caught him staring at you for thirty minutes straight at the party last week?"

Nic looked up. "No wa---Really? Why didn't you tell me?"

I crossed my arms and sighed. "Because you'd have just said, 'oh, Garcia's not into me, he'll never love me, waaaahhh'."

Dominic glared at me. "I would not---"

"You just did," I replied, and skipped forward when he tried to smack me.

I bumped into someone and knocked both of us to the ground. I looked up and saw the man himself!

I stood and brushed myself off, then yanked Dominic forward.

"Here, Nic, help the poor guy up. I accidentally knocked him down," I said with a pointed look at Nic.

I could see him grit his teeth. "Of course."

He helped Garcia up and helped him pick up the books he'd been carrying. "Here."

Garcia pushed his glasses up. I noticed a flush on his face. He looked down at his feet. "Hey, Nic---Is it okay if I call you that?"

Dominic chest rose and fell very quickly. "U-um, yeah. 'Course."

"I was wondering if maybe. . ." Garcia trailed off, rubbing the toe of his shoe into the pavement. "You'd like to study? Together, I mean."

"Oh, uh. . ." Dominic rubbed the back of his neck. "I was---"

"Just about to suggest that," I cut in, patting Nic's shoulder. "He'd love to study with you. He even has all his homework in his backpack."

Dominic gave me a sharp look, but I just grinned.

Garcia looked up for a split second, then down again. He pushed his glasses up once more.

"I'd really like that," he said quietly.

"Great!" I said and started walking home. I heard Nic say my name, but I was not looking back. If I gave that idiot a way out, he'd take to it faster than a chicken to feed.

When I got home, I dropped my bag on the floor and pulled my shoes off. I collapsed in bed and sighed. Turned onto my side.

There was a letter on my nightstand.

I sat up and opened it.

Just four words. "For when you're lonely".

I gasp and put my hand to my mouth, tears springing instantly in my eyes.

Because enclosed is a picture.

Of me and Vivian.