Chapter 85

“Bill pulled himself up and made his life better. Then he met me, understood what I was going through, and gave a helping hand. All you saw was the dirt and stink of someone under the heel of your shoe, like old gum. People like you make me sick. You know nothing about me, or what I’ve been through! Yet you feel free to make assumptions. The next time you see someone hurting and destitute out in the world, I hope you treat them better than you did me.”

With that, he took the basket and went into the kitchen, leaving the rest of us standing there.

Shirley sniffled and wiped her eyes.

Trent hugged her to his side. “I—we—didn’t know, Bill…about you. Not that it would have changed anything, but…” He sighed. “I hope we can be friends again, one day. It’s not the same without you at the house, and I’m sorry it came to this, and our friendship has been strained because of stupidity.”

Shirley started sobbing. I figured it was time for them to go.