Because You Exist by Tiffany Truitt Read Free Book Online Page A

understood any of it. I had spent the weekend studying wormholes and theories of time travel when only days before I had dreamt of doing unmentionable things to my girlfriend all weekend while her parents were away—another example of the failed American dream.
    I told Jenna I was doing the research for an extra credit creative writing assignment for English. English and history were the two classes I didn’t let cheerleaders or the drama club girls do my homework for me. I actually liked those subjects. I had C’s in both of them because I only ever got half the work done, but at least I earned those grades on my own.
    Jenna was a saint and helped me read over the books. She even made me little flash cards and quizzed me on the theories and the theorists connected to them. She got a little antsy when we started watching Lost on Saturday night. She snuggled close to me and began to nuzzle my neck. I could tell she wanted to fool around, but every time she got too close to me all I could see were the maggots and her rotting skin. Touching my girlfriend literally made me sick to my stomach. I kept her at bay by cocking up some story about having to focus so I could get my assignment perfect. I told her I was in danger of getting kicked off the team if I didn’t pull up my grades.
    Jenna never complained or acted like she thought something was up. That didn’t mean she didn’t think something was wrong. Neither Jenna nor I particularly sought out conflict.
    “...it just seems like some weird science fiction crap.”
    “I liked the Lost episode,” I blurted out, hoping Josephine hadn’t noticed I completely spaced out while she was talking.
    Josephine handed me one of her tacos. I didn’t originally get any food for myself, fearing all the time travel and end of the world talk would leave me feeling queasy, but the truth was talking about it left me feeling like for the first time since the start of the weekend I had my feet on the ground. I was moving toward the end, and that felt better than waiting for the end to come to me.
    “Yeah. I kept thinking of that episode after Mr. Ambiguous said that thing about that world being our present but not the present we were used to.”
    I nodded. “It kind of reminded me of this guy we talked about in English class. He was like this big literary critic or theorist or something. His name was Ricouer. At least that’s what I think his name was. He talked about how when you read a story whatever part you are reading is your present, no matter if it’s the character’s past or present.”
    Josephine dumped half of her chips onto my now empty taco wrapper. “Ricouer? Damn, QB1, you are way smarter than I ever gave you credit for. And now you’re actually blushing.”
    “I am not.”
    Was I? Smart was not an adjective often connected to my name.
    “It does kind of make the whole present comment make sense. So add that to the Lost theory—”
    “Wait. So, when we’re in the other world, the future world, that’s our present? Meaning, if we are going by the Asian dude’s rant, we can like die and stuff in Mr. Ambiguous’ world?”
    “Yeah. I think whatever happens there happens,” Josephine replied. “Why else would creepers keep warning us about all the dangers? I think when we go back we’ll have to be careful.”
    “How do we go back?” I asked.
    “That’s a good question to add to the list of really good questions.”
    I sighed. “Why us?”
    “I don’t know.”
    Neither of us talked for a while after that. Josephine crumpled up her trash and placed it back onto the tray. I followed suit. I wasn’t feeling so hungry anymore either. I got up and dumped the tray. When I returned Josephine had her hood back up covering her head, having removed it when we first sat down.
    “To be honest, I don’t understand a damn thing we’re talking about,” Josephine said quietly, pushing her half empty cup back and forth between her hands.
    I sighed. Not out of