"She said she could make all my financial problems disappear. Pay for art school, help my mom with her medical bills, everything." Tears were streaming down Elara's face now. "And all I had to do was find a way to isolate you. Make you vulnerable. And the best way i coupd rhink of was to destroy our friendship…"

I felt like I was falling, like the ground had disappeared from under me. "Elara…"

"I took the money," she whispered. "God, Evie, I'm so sorry. I was so scared about my mom's cancer ...