Long Bright River

Mickey recalls the aftermath of her sister’s first overdose. When Mickey tells Simon about the episode, he is sympathetic and comforting. Over time, he becomes Mickey’s mentor, despite Kacey’s dislike of him.

Within a week of her overdose, Kacey again begins to sneak out at night. The rift between the sisters begins during this period: “On the nights Kacey was home, we two lay in the same bed, each with our own secret, a line drawn between us, a chasm that widened each week” (171).

As Mickey enters her senior year of high school, she applies to two colleges and gets into both. Gee refuses to fill out the application forms for student loans. Shortsightedly, she believes that an education will be useless and will put Mickey deep in debt. Heartbroken, Mickey turns to Simon for consolation. He suggests that she attend community college and apply to the police academy when she turns 19. At this point, she begins sleeping with Simon.

After two years on the force, Mickey saves up enough money to buy a house of her own. Surprisingly, Kacey is upset when her older sister moves out. Shortly after, Kacey is arrested for a robbery that sends her to Riverside Correctional Facility for a year.