#griffith page

In it, Esme and Reggie have started their first year in high school, and because Esme had to deal with an abusive parasite of a man before her mother straight-up murdered him, she’s dead silent.

Then one day, Griffith sat with her at lunch to try and get her to at least say something. She never did, but he understood how badly his uncle hurt her.

Then, the two of them decided to hang around each other more often, and they started to go on “dates” by February 2002. By May, Esme is finally able to talk again, but only one word at a time.

Then two, then four, then eight, and so on and so forth.