After the Cabin Read Online Free

intensity. “Like, I'm not just saying it, I think people would benefit from a book like that. Nothing exploitative, nothing gross that goes into the sick details, no-one wants to read stuff like that. I just mean something tasteful, something that puts the human side across. It could be, like, uplifting.”
    “I'm really not interested in going over the past,” I tell her. “It's over. I'm moving on.”
    As her phone briefly buzzes, she pulls it from her pocket and takes a look at a message. “I can't believe Marit was in on it, either,” she continues, sniffing again. “I remember her vaguely from when we were all really young. I mean, I didn't know her that well back then but...” She starts tapping at her phone's screen, sending a message back to someone. “But seriously, don't you hate her even more than the others? It's like, she actually claimed to be your friend but she just tricked you into going out there. The whole thing was just so pre-meditated. Like, they must have been planning it for months, luring you into their trap!”
    “I haven't thought about it much,” I lie. “I'm certainly not going to think about it in the future.” That, at least, is true.
    “Sorry,” she continues, still typing, “I just need to reply to this guy Matt. He's dragging a few of us out to the Rebellion club.”
    “Is that place still going?” I ask.
    “Go figure. There's some local band playing tonight, I don't even know if I want to go.”
    “Does it still stink of stale beer in there?”
    “Totally.”
    “And are the bands still rubbish?”
    She nods. “If anything, they're worse than ever.”
    I pause for a moment. That brief conversation, just a few lines long, was the first time I've felt truly normal since everything that happened at the cabin. “Can I come?” I ask, before I can stop myself.
    She turns to me, clearly shocked.
    “Can I?” I continue, forcing a smile. “I mean, it's okay if you don't want me to, I just -”
    “No,” she stammers, “I mean yes, of course you can come, I just never thought to invite you, that's all. I mean, I thought...” Her voice trails off, and it's clear that she's still surprised. “Anna, don't take this the wrong way, but do you really think it's a good idea?”
    “Why not?”
    “You've been home for about five hours,” she points out. “Shouldn't you be way, way more cautious about, like, easing yourself back into things?”
    I know she's right, but I want to prove that I'm not this fragile little thing.
    “What did your doctors say?” she asks.
    “To take it easy.”
    “And your mother?”
    “The same.”
    “Maybe they have a point, Anna. Honey, it takes time to adjust to being out again.”
    “So I'm supposed to just to sit around in my room?” I ask. “I'm not going to turn into some kind of shut-in, Karen. I want to get back out into the real world, and a night at a grotty little local bar sounds just about right. I won't drink alcohol, I won't dance or stay out too late, but I'd like to be around people for just an hour or two.” I wait for her to reply. I know she's right, I know I should take it easy and protect myself, but at the same time I'm absolutely desperate to prove that I'm not some pathetic little cripple. This is my first chance to do something normal, and I can't let it to go waste. “So how about it?” I continue. “Do you mind if I tag along?”

Three
     
    “This place is even worse than I remembered!” I shout, trying to make myself heard over the noise of the sound-system as I take a sip of cola. “I swear, it's like they never clean anything!”
    “Wait 'til the band starts,” Karen replies. “I heard them once before, they're not exactly good. I swear, the drummer can't even keep time! Still, I guess I'd hate it if this place actually changed. Bad music and a terrible smell are kind of its soul, right?” She fiddles with her straw for a moment. “So how did your mother react when you told her you were coming