Already, I hated the behemoth—mostly because he wasn’t letting me have my way. He offered to help Theo with his quest like Theo was Link from Zelda. I should’ve taken pictures of Collin’s face while he talked to Theo. He was in the presence of greatness, or so his expression revealed. It was just Theo, for crying out loud. A miniscule bolt of fear meandered through my veins as Theo agreed to let Collin go with him. Because he said me, not us. ‘Sure you can come with me.’ Who in the hell does this skunk ape think he is? “Don’t even think about cutting me out,” I whispered, ashamed of the emotion it carried. “Hey,” Theo sidled up next to me, using a soothing tone. “Have I ever cut you out?” He probably meant no harm by that statement. He would never purposefully hurt me. But I read between the lines anyway. What he was really saying was that I had constantly cut him out. And I had. I cut him out of my life time and time again, only to summon him back when I needed him.
