Holly

Holly was an angel lost among the clouds. When I opened her door, she was buried under her white duvet, gold hair streaming around the fullness of her cheeks. She didn't say 'come in'.

Sometimes, Holly says, she sees this black veil before her eyes, like she's mourning.

Like, everything is darker? I ask

No, she says, sort of there and not there. Like, when you stare at the Sun and get that spot in your eye. The one you can't look away from. she says.

I don't know what Holly means, because I've never stared at the Sun before.

I get her a cup of water and crack some vitamins capsules into it. I get her an apple too. I set both of these down on her white nightstand. She doesn't go for it.