Rising Read Online Free PDF

she’d tried to banish her from there, too, but it had been harder than expected.
    A year earlier, Sara had left her mother to live on her own. A lot can happen in a year. Now Sara had her own place, a small, web-design business, and twenty-seven dollars in her checking account that needed to last for a little more than a week.
    “I don’t know why you don’t just room with me,” Gretchen offered for the hundredth time. “I’m rarely home, you could work from there just as well as you work from here, and you wouldn’t have to deal with the scumbags.”
    As if on cue, Sara saw her neighbor Slink slither out of his apartment. She had no idea what his real name was. Maybe his mother took one look at his face and decided the name fit. With his emaciated body and greasy black hair, it sure fit him now.
    Slink gave Sara a creepy smile and a once-over that made her anxious for a shower and scrub brush. Yeah, she wished she didn’t have to deal with the scumbags.
    “Gretchen.” Sara used her I-don’t-want-to-hear-it tone.
    “I know, I know. You and your space.” Gretchen followed Sara down the dark, narrow hallway. Sara held her breath as Slink passed her. She’d made the mistake of breathing in the putrid air from his wake once and had never forgotten it.
    “Sara, look, I think you ought to see Dr. Yauney. He’s very good. And he is completely discreet.”
    Sara suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. “Is this about my legs or my mental health?”
    “Um, he’s the psychiatrist ,” Gretchen answered softly, taking a quick glance at Slink’s retreating figure.
    Sara opened the door to her apartment and , of course, Gretchen followed her inside without being invited in. Did no one teach this girl manners?
    “Dr. Yauney excels in treating phobias. You don’t have to work on all of them at once. Just pick one to start. You have a lot to choose from. Let’s see, you have a fear of water, doctors, strangers, a fear of people seeing your body, and… oh yeah, a relationship fear.”
    “Relationship fear?” Sara raised one eyebrow. This one was new.
    Gretchen picked up a handful of pretzels from a glass jar on the counter and popped one into her mouth. “Yes, relationship fear. When was the last time you went out on a date?”
    Never, thank goodness. But of course, Sara didn’t say that out loud.
    “I know you get plenty of men checking you out ,” Gretchen said. “You’re one gorgeous woman and completely oblivious to the attention you get from the opposite sex. You just need to flirt a bit. I think you should start with Ron Hathaway.”
    Sara raised her eyebrows.
    “I saw you checking him out,” Gretchen said. “He is quite delectable.”
    “You think half the men on the island are delectable. Besides, I’m happy with my life the way it is. I don’t need a boyfriend messing that up.” Sure, deep down, she wanted one, but a relationship was out of the question.
    “You’re happy?” Gretchen looked doubtful.
    “Yes, I’m happy.” Sara put on her best smile.
    “You could’ve fooled me.”
    Sara’s smile vanished. “Listen, my life has never been better. My web-design business is booming. Before long, I’ll be able to afford to rent a better place.” In a year or two or ten. She kept that part to herself. “I just wish you’d stop trying to fix me. There’s no fixing me.”
    “As long as you keep believing that…”
    “It’s true. So stop trying.”
    Sara wheeled toward the refrigerator and grabbed a plate of leftover lasagna. She refused to offer Gretchen any. She didn’t even want her here. Well, okay, maybe she did after the scare in the parking lot, but she certainly didn’t want Gretchen hassling her.
    Gretchen continued to munch on pretzels as she spoke between bites. “I can’t stop trying to help. You’re my best friend. Listen, I know you had a rough childhood, but that doesn’t have to damage you for life. With help, I know you can find a way to move beyond it. And