Gone Read Online Free PDF

circumstances.”
    The fan blows a knee-level path from the TV to the coffee table, catching the two pairs of bare legs on the couch in the middle of its run. Janie shivers slightly when the air hits her sweat-dampened skin. She thinks of HenryFeingold, the stranger, presumably her father. Dying. And for the third time in twenty-four hours, Janie wishes it were someone else.
    She leans her head against Cabel’s shoulder and slips her arm behind his. He turns, slides her onto his lap, and they hold on tightly to each other.
    Because there’s no one else.
    She’s so conflicted.
    Janie imagines life without people. Without him. Broken heart, loneliness, but able to see, to feel. To live. To be, in peace. Not always looking over her shoulder for the next dream attack.
    And she imagines life with him. Blind, gnarled, but loved . . . at least while things are still good. And always knowing what struggles he’s dealing with through his dreams. Does she really want to see that, as years go by? Does she really want to be this incredible burden to such an awesome guy?
    She still doesn’t know which scenario wins.
    But she’s thinking.
    Maybe broken hearts can mend more easily than broken hands and eyes.
    9:41 a.m.
    It’s too hot to sit like that for long.
    Cabe stretches. “You going to wake her up? Head down to the hospital again?”
    “God, I hope not.”
    “Janie.”
    “Yeah, I know.”
    “At least it’s air-conditioned there.”
    “So’s your car. Wanna go make out in the driveway instead?”
    Cabel laughs. “Maybe after dark. In fact, hell yes, after dark. But seriously, Janie. I think you need to talk to your mom.”
    Janie sighs and rolls her eyes. “I suppose.”
    9:49 a.m.
    She taps softly on her mother’s bedroom door.
    Glances at Cabel.
    To Janie, this room doesn’t feel like a part of the house. It’s more just a door to another world, a portal to sorrow, from which Dorothea appears and disappears at random. Rarely does she even catch a glimpse inside unless her mother is coming or going.
    She waits. Enters, bracing herself against a possible dream. But Janie’s mother isn’t dreaming at the moment. Janie lets out a breath and looks around.
    Filtered sunlight squeezes into the room through the worn patches of the window drape. The furnishings arespare but what’s there is messy. Paper plates, bottles, and glasses are on the floor next to the bed. It’s hot and stuffy. Stale.
    In the bed, Janie’s mother sleeps on her back, the thin nightgown gripping her bony figure.
    “Mom,” Janie whispers.
    There’s no response.
    Janie feels self-conscious. She shifts on the balls of her feet. The floor creaks. “Mother,” she says, louder this time.
    Janie’s mother grunts and looks up, squinting. Hoists herself with effort on her elbow. “Issit the phone?” she mumbles.
    “No, I . . . it’s almost ten o’clock and I was just wondering—”
    “Don’t you got school?”
    Janie’s jaw drops.
You’ve got to be kidding me
. She takes a deep breath, considers blowing up at her mother, reminding her of the graduation she didn’t attend, and the fact that it’s summer, but decides now is not the time. The words rush out before Dorothea can interrupt again. “No, ah, no school today. I’m wondering what the deal is with Henry and if you have to go to the hospital again or what. I don’t want to—”
    At the mention of Henry, Janie’s mother sucks in a loud breath. “Oh, my God,” she says, moaning, as if shejust remembered what happened. She rolls over and shakily gets to her feet. Shuffles past Janie, out of the bedroom. Janie follows.
    “Mom?” Janie doesn’t know what to do. As they turn toward the kitchen, Janie gives Cabel a helpless look and he shrugs. “Mother.”
    Dorothea pulls orange juice from the fridge, ice and vodka from the freezer, and pours herself some breakfast. “What?” she asks, sniffling.
    “Is this Henry guy my father?”
    “Of course he’s your father. I’m no