4. Everest

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"I never thought the day would come that the Everest Finley would ask for my services," Mikey rasped out in a deep chuckle before taking another hit from his blunt.

Never did I ever think I would come here. I dreamed of dying and never having to accept the reality of the world. But here I was, buying weed and beer, allowing myself to sit in this dirty basement and forget about everything.

Mikey Cosweld, school stoner and lowlife, allowed people to chill in his basement. The Basement was full of druggies and drinkers. You entered through the garage because his grandpap had the late shift and needed to rest. You smoked and drank, maybe even popped a few pills. But you never talked about your problems; this wasn't a shrink's office. After handing him a fifty-dollar bill, I grabbed the brown paper bag, the key to my oblivion.

"Whoa, dude, what's with the scars on your arm?" some guy from behind me asked.

"I . . . my . . . I have a crazy cat," I lied, hoping no one could sense my discomfort.

Mikey eyed me, and I knew I'd failed.

"I want a cat, ha-ha-ha, so cute and fat," some girl with purple hair on the old ratted couch giggled. She laughed and laughed, and I struggled to see what was so funny.

"I can cover that up." Mikey nodded toward my wrist.

He must have read my confused facial expression because he lifted his sleeve to reveal a new set of sleeves—ones that were obtained by ink.

I looked back at him and he shrugged. "I had a cat too."

After a few hits from my joint and a couple of beers, I looked like a different person. It didn't take much. The girl with purple hair, who I later learned was Aurora, asked to dye my hair from its sandy-brown color to the darkest level of black, and I didn't care to decline. My left arm was scattered in ink, a half-sleeve design that was pretty all right, even though I'd regret it later, but not now. I didn't care. I was getting sick of seeing the same person in the mirror anyway.

***

When I looked in the mirror the next morning, part of me absolutely hated it. It was the complete opposite of who I always was, and that was why the other part of me loved it. After get- ting ready for the day, I treaded down the stairs and was met by my mom and sister sitting at the large mahogany dining-room table.

"Good morning, Everest," Susan greeted me with a wry smile and wide eyes.

Hadley looked up from her breakfast and glanced at me before quickly glancing back down and chewing on her toast like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

My mother gasped. "What have you done?"

I was out all night and she didn't even care to know where I was. No calls. No texts.

Some people may find it weird that I wanted my mom to call me,

but it would show that she'd care if I was gone. Ever since I came home from the hospital she'd avoided me at all costs. This was the first time she actually acknowledged me, and it was to scold my appearance. I ignored her and grabbed an apple from the dining table.

"Why would you do that to yourself? How will you go out in public now? Matter of fact, you will go nowhere until I call Dr. Marinzel."

So he can prod me with questions again just to offer lousy solutions?

"Fuck no," I laughed in response, as she let out another gasp.

I'd never cursed before. I felt that notion was completely unnecessary, but it was time for changes, and I was loving every bit of it. "I don't know who you are anymore," my mother said to herself, a wild look of sorrow and bewilderment on her features.

I grabbed my hoodie and walked toward the front door. "You never did."

"Where are you going?!" my mother yelled after receiving my parting blow of words.

"To another place I don't belong," I answered, shutting the door behind me.

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