I blink at Eileen, trying to process what she’s just said. Eileen shifts her weight, letting go of my face as she takes a small step back. Her eyes briefly flick off into the trees before landing back on me. Something is off. I don’t know what it is yet, but Eileen is not acting on her own here…
Eileen takes in a deep breath, clearly having prepared a bit of a speech herself. “Lily, I think you are wonderful. You are funny and caring, and so full of life. But that life deserves to be lived. You deserve to be out in the world and have all those human experiences that people your age get to do.”
“I am, and I will,” I reply. “Just with you by my side.”
Eileen shakes her head, “I’m not living anymore. I’m a history book of trouble and anguish. That’s not what I want to bring into your life.”