Breathe Me (A 'Me' Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page A

while I was recovering from a broken leg and pelvis after an “accidental” fall from my two-story bedroom window. It was endless days of reading any fantasy and paranormal shit Matty or my mother would bring me. I now read less fantasy and more books where people got their asses handed to them after doing some foul shit they thought they could get away with it. Yeah, I didn’t even want to look too closely into why I liked those now. Too wound up for sleep and in for the night, I settled in to check out this dystopian world that had better have some motherfuckers squaring up or I was gonna be pissed.

Chapter 5
    Harley
    I awoke with a stiff neck and a sore back, and for a minute I was lost as to why. Oh, that’s right, last night. I carefully rolled over onto my side and saw it was still dark outside, so I guessed it was early morning, maybe five. I flicked on my bedside lamp, reached for a book from my small bookshelf by my bed, and began to read about a love story of the epic kind. One where the guy fights hard for the girl and wins her over with three magic words. I overdosed on this shit. Romance and lasting love and happily-ever-afters were my kryptonite. I read until I started to daydream about a day where love would find me. Not that I’d even know what it was supposed to look like—I had nothing to base it on. But then I heard my mother’s voice in my head like nails on a chalkboard. Who’s going to love you? Look at you.
    As usual, this was enough to make me feel like shit again, and I stopped daydreaming. I read until the sun started to rise, then I got up and got ready for work. I passed by my closet mirror and studied myself. I looked at my skinny but flabby arms, my slightly bigger than average nose, and my dull reddish-brown hair. I took in my malnourished-looking stomach and pale legs. What could someone ever see in me? Then I stared at my breasts. I liked them. My chest was the only thing on my body that I thought was prefect, despite what my mother said about it. Twisting in the mirror, I looked at the thighs that could be more toned and a butt that could be more round. Something for someone to hold onto. At least that was what they all said in the books. I caught sight of my back and saw the foot-sized bruise just above my tailbone. It stared back at me, deep purple and mocking, mocking because I wasn’t strong enough.
    “Fuck you,” I said to the bruise, to my monster, to me.
    I put on my clothes, taking care not to stretch out my back too much. I tied my hair in a ponytail at the base of my neck, ignoring the knot that was going to be the cause of a dull headache all day. I slipped on my flats because it hurt to bend down to tie my sneakers.
    “Ready to be someone you’re not?” I asked my reflection. She stared back, unsmiling.
    I paused at my door and listened. Hearing nothing, I eased out and shut it quietly behind me. I breathed a small sigh of relief when I passed her door and heard her snoring softly on the other side. I made my escape unscathed. Now I was safe.
    I started walking to the bookstore with a bounce in my step and a smile on my face. For the next eight hours, I’d be free. Even if the day sucked mothballs, I wouldn’t care.
    My phone chirped, and before I even took the phone out of my bag, I knew it was Ember. She was the only other person I knew who’d be awake at this hour. She sent a text telling me that Matt’s brother blew them off last night as well and asking when can we try again. I texted her back, saying that I was booked for the next few nights, and made up some random names of guys whom I would supposedly be blowing. We texted a few more times and finally ended with her telling me she would stop by to have lunch with me since she was off today. I rounded the corner to ’wormz and noticed a few cars in the parking lot already.
    No releases of new material were set to come out today, so these customers were probably the early morning creepers. Just what I