It's been about two weeks since the wedding, and my lip has returned to its normal state. I can't say I'm not pleased.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuiEYvx25v
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvub2fBYdDS
I haven't seen David since the morning after the wedding; I've had at least one photo shoot each day, which is a 180 from the level of struggles that I was facing not even four months ago.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YDPMl8k9J
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuA9cG9xLN
As I walk to the kitchen in my small apartment, I begin to wonder... what does David do? He's never told me. He must have a pretty good job to own two houses, but somehow, I've been fuckíng the man for weeks now and I still don't know.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjIcyFO3CW
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9fJTCTE2R
I shrug off the thought, and reach up to open the cabinet and pull down the jar of Jablum Instant Coffee, I feel a sharp pain in the left side of my pelvis.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbz3AewJacK
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPue77MTDk1
"Fuck," I hiss, bending over.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WbNI15Td8
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPLZm78dCg
This is what you get for not eating dinner last night. Gas pains.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFjvBA3C2T
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8le2WQOZQ
I straighten up and reach for the coffee again, this time retrieving it, and make myself a cup of steaming black coffee with scrambled eggs and bread along with it (I'm too lazy to do anything else).477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzqrW0gliJ
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIljfIczs8O
So, back to David. What does he do? For some reason, I wouldn't be surprised if he was into some shady shit. 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZ0yq4ZWk4
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPUzZKUVzG
Oh, well. 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZK0ukKBWN
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DQTxjP1Ip
I guess I'll just have to ask the next time I see him. I make a mental note to do so, and even though I'm extremely forgetful, I'm pretty sure that I'll remember this.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JlaAVRyfv
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRMUEn9Ykl
After resolving to ask David about his occupation the next time we speak, I continue to eat, not really for the taste of the food, but rather out of necessity. It's something that happens to me sometimes — I don't feel the urge to eat, but I know that I have to do I force myself to.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnbV9yDE7J
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMDszHrSWe
On other occasions, I'm like a pig, consuming everything in sight until I feel as if I'm about to burst like that poor man at the end of 'Monty Python's The Meaning of Life'. 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCzTRWQlnB
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeHTxa2Rml
I have no idea why my eating patterns are so random — they aren't affected by my mood or period, they just seem inconsistent.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPXGPXXaKg
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyCdPi6oFN
After I finish and wash up the plates, I go back to my room and check my phone.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP4TMRztOd
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQZtrJNxwk
I have two missed calls from none other than Marcus.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgGJDEvnVc
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlSCfmjWKe
"Answer your goddamn phone," he growls when I call him back.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFy5UjUGtA
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcV9di0nWP
"Whatever. Why are you calling me?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OEL1FVHgD
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8izsEJ430
"You have a new job offering. It's an event. But—"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpKzucSMrB
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYxIC493MD
"I—"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1LJifolAH
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7FwVmuqIb
"But—"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJI2Tc40oQ2
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosRAiFR4Fr
"You—"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYhrN0X7dO
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TIxEj698p
"But," he says, drawing out the word so that I will let him continue.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRFJzLMtWS
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxpc9zHejZ
I shut up.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡab99ty4lpm
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUT1aoE3nNL
"It's a free speaking/poetry open mic event. They're offering thirty thousand, because they're a little low on funding, but—"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRhHK7RYzg
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn4GzYzTpf
"I'll go," I say before he can finish his sentence. I love poetry — and he knows it. I love reading it, I love writing it, I love hearing it. There's no way I'm passing up this opportunity.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrBwDbIcIc
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfa9OgG3Qwm
"Great. It's on Thursday coming at nine p.m. I'll text you the address and remember to get there early."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHsvvnvqIc
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpI8lcXovc
"Yes, sir!" I say in mock salute.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIZ4xpEuTr
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeFFojoulX
I hear him laugh through the phone.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq65DxH2uCu
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1m66rTLdw
"By, Leah."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5UtWOMOtP
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAg7QGgYHP
"Bye."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGLQuqh7oo
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6uEjIx0OL
I sigh as I hang up the phone. Today is Monday. What is it with all of the late bookings? 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrONeL0XMWU
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmT0Hj49ka
Well, at least you aren't broke anymore.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gNHMepfVY
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0slLeErKQq
With that optimistic thought in mind, I go back to the kitchen for another cup of coffee.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7N43lxLqpf
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesOA6rrUSQ
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9no3JmSqpt
***477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeKTgkuC9M
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXL7yZwH7Ob
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPifXPKwku
Poetic Justice is a small, intimate setting. It is located outdoors, and has a small stage area with a few small tables and a bar located at the back.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixAC9Ujfpk
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEoJ4fquhU
"Hello, you must be Leah," says a young woman who has just approached me, dressed in a pair of jeans and a grey blouse.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRFEYX8qcF
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXhvKG8Uim
"Good evening. Andrea, right?" I ask. That's the name Marcus gave me.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukG3uXXUU8
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxkaCFtDoB
"Yes," she replies, and begins to walk, so naturally, I walk with her.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQF5VuJ6EQ
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7r8HwLkK2
"The bar is straight to the back. Have whatever you want; I've already told the bartender that your drinks are on the house. And feel free to come up and do a little poem; putting down the camera for five minutes won't hurt," she says with a smile, then turns and walks away.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPw3Kc9BAd
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCcZxCAV2I
Well that's an odd offer. 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2MCuQH71U
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1Jn97VZXj
I sigh and place my camera bag on a table near to me and start to set up my camera.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1GaNpcZDA
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTM3BzKhZPL
"Leah," I hear in a voice that is all to familiar.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSPiuyw24M
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwgaLb6l1W
"David?" I reply, spinning to face him. "What are you doing here?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25kVLKKGtI
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdE5LGQDHq
"I come here all the time," he replies, his eyebrows knitted together, "and I love poetry."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCbCijszuG
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PKuvNqou7
"So do I."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpwvE6OtBj
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyfExoLISc
I now have my camera in my hand, and I remember the pressing question that I had for him.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjnLvVF6ZT
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpYm2mfzE1
"What do you do for a living?" I blurt out.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MvjeDlfda
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFVodleth0
To be honest, I'm prepared to hear anything; from a drug dealer, to a pimp. I wouldn't judge him, though.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EmoxgWj27
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLJAJVTcQ0
"I'm a graphic designer."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkd4XMGpWV
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyQsToF8yw
Well I wasn't expecting that.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQroH8D22S
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WRkL2l3Gs
"I also sell ganja on the side. I have links with a ganja farmer."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6nDVnPLMf
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT1aJZtTw1
That's more like it.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjPDE9T6IV
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cgRFROUTE
We stand there in silence for a few seconds, and then he clears his throat.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCCgbalS37
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6zleO6MeY
"I have to, use the bathroom. See you later."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBN2WPzPql3
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAQiisv0Ce
"Okay. Bye."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvJoSxsDgV
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob1kBIdZ64
He walks off and I go to the bar and get myself a glass of ginger ale. I stand idly by the bar for a few moments, and before I know it, Andrea is on the stage.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQauyhq8Nq
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqbYxrXJMR
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Andrea, and tonight, I'll be your hostess. So as you are all probably aware, we are having a poetry/free speaking open mic event tonight. Who would like to go first?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDMiBpWRsG
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTFmfBUlT0
A young girl around my age walks awkwardly up to the stage, and performs a dramatic rendition of Dry Foot Bwoy by Louise Bennett.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAlwrHRX0Y
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bjj1bqecO
As the night continues, I find myself being more and more entertained. One man performs a ballad inspired by his daughter; a young boy performs a free verse dedicated to his mother in the audience. 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAcAXUFSI4
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJVWXyzQzb
Then, a tall gentleman steps onto the stage.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbiUH49j3U
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbSmXPY0mh
"Hello. My name is Henry."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOn8j3zwn6
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrag25jZZTY
People in the crowd say their greetings.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XDvS28Tks
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJ1SwyfelJ
"Tonight, I will be performing a free verse poem I wrote."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHIP5fhPbo
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1Kj9GYvmy
He clears his voice, then begins.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKqwXOtB0X
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41WHT2RbtU
"Have you ever been in love?477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNmt5KS8fB
Had your soul so deeply entwined477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48zsfAhK5J
With another's477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF1w2hLHa4
That you cannot figure where yours ends477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdgpgiO4eA
And theirs begins?477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDsD5DA7V1
So madly and deeply in love477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHIo2kPkeT
That that person's heart beats with yours;477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsv9uLBLf3e
Just looking at them is blinding; 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwqYhHyF57
It's like staring at a supernova 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nD8b6aDyI
But you do it anyway477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoiaDWp1x2
Because when she's there477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHXXUUzGTO
Logic and Reason die."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mtqysGGT3
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoYhvFp658
I feel my stomach curl with unease, tension filling my body, because I know that it's going to go downhill — I can feel it.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqzLlqgOyw
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsrgwbdimD
"Now imagine what it feels like 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuJYLTT6Lw
To have that person477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9x1QTfP2s
Ripped 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97afbvMo6A
From your life;477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHVEFLVDH2
Torn away from you.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbEQM2pl4L
You can't breathe. 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEkMT1dzJy
You're dead, yet you aren't,477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBErHbGrmi
You still 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbK55mbHPa
Walk477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzhzonpo6g
Talk477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuxJSRtQ6Q
Interact 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4eQfplxhR
With the people around you,477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cwMKQVC6l
But on the on the inside, 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5gsP5fCQY
You're hollow;477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpvMwhY5Pu
Dead."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWPXBIHmxK
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrvDNt6CD3
This is not how my night was supposed to go.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAIF1kH08M
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6gLgRrMa9
"It's been ten years,477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCWiml6UKJ
My love, 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAZ7wPPkdq
And every day, 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpn1Hmwf9R
Every hour, 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsn3I4wozZ0
Every second without you 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGqT9pxVsB
Feels like 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAOvsIcLfE
Torture."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsCplCXKES
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKeg7CqYXA
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJSntnpz2o
By now, I feel like I'm being tortured. I want to leave, but as I look through the viewfinder of my camera, I know more than anything that I can't.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhqOIWfJA7
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGFbWeIoiL
"I would ask for 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYmiHamAVE
Forgiveness,477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM50TTM4LVw
But I can see that you've... 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHI38T2lAtA
Moved on, 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2I5qBmZbi
And found happiness elsewhere. 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wVNpT4iHW
And I have to live477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCszRWIRBAC
With the consequences 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpJL1KMRzs
Of my stupid actions 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9AgIdx4Op
For the rest of my life. 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKp1r5EqGRl
I have to live with this 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToA9wKtFuL
Torture, 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZOGRUGIgd
This 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckCLBC2AOg
Pain,477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqI1sEY6YN9
Because I have never stopped,477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUJ0oEOMnO
Loving 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH4Zqg8yBE
You,477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAAfTRhZ4N
And I don't think I ever will."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcOGOo34zm
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2J6bhVBPSc
By the end of the poem, I feel like I might drop my camera.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡie7ZYHiXI4
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eXCTpGbZ7
All of the emotions that I have been trying to surprises come rushing forward as Henry says his poem, because I know exactly what that feels like. I don't want to remember it, but I do.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLKXzii3tL
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mKe69q5Ob
Tears fill and spill over my eyes as the audience applaud Henry; I can no longer see Henry through the viewfinder of my camera.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAv1la556x
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVTNTPgMD0
This pain, this ache in my chest, this is what happens when you suppress your emotions, and pretend that your past is nonexistent, when you refuse to acknowledge what was once there.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmlNuhXp75
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmIL0Mfvtf
Pressing the ignore button on the past — repeatedly, in my case — is not only disrespectful to the highest degree, but also stupid, because the past won't change.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEXV9eSCUN
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanw93u87nO
The fact that I'm in a place called Poetic Justice and my stupidity has finally caught up to me isn't lost on me. How ironic.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1jrDJGRUi
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RsuWUH4jl
Suddenly, a strong arm is wrapped around me, and the camera is being taken out of my hand. I let out a broken sob into his chest as he rubs my back soothingly. I don't even know how long we stand there like this.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyhLA3GxYv
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqTfCkfCjH
In the back of my mind I know that I'm crossing a line, breaking my own rule letting him comfort me like this, but in this moment, I feel too broken to care.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3llVmuwcc
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xQ4ytUJgx
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeQ0rP6Tti
***477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfgFvgtkIR
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywgbwkwJ22
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RNpNuVufn
We finally pull apart, and he looks at me cautiously, as if I'll break.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5ZBv64RHY
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFLNaHkPfV
"I'm okay," I say to reassure him.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFS181oHcT
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtEFhMFQRQ
He doesn't look convinced.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJdm7aQih1
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxW6QHRyWB
I look down at the ground and sigh, then look back at him. 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHhfq8GJPU
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLjBx0yfkt
Then I realise he isn't holding my camera.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq771y5cP3
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFgVBVv0e4
"Where's my camera?" I ask frantically.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2H3XNMTd1
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cjrJFwhgW
He nods behind me, and I see my camera bag sitting on a table behind us. I sigh loudly in relief.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EHYfIiXcH
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzol9IHAid1
I look up at him, and maybe it's because of how vulnerable but safe I'm feeling with him right now, but what I say next just feels right.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphvUCYwpfi
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2AWwPfte9
"I've been in love before; madly, madly, deeply in love," I say, my voice cracking all over the place. I take a shaky breath. "It hurts to think about what could have been; what will never be. I wanted to be a mother, to be the mother of his children." 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PUKHeM0GT
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgjVSJnrzR
I'm hyperventilating.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydJ43elAcn
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6dg6DgUM5
"Breathe, Leah. Take deep, steady breaths," he says to me while rubbing circles into my back.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudV1F1nqdf
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When I finally calm down he speaks again.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrosoiZZMK
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWKHghLKE5
"If you don't mind telling me... what happened?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP73pjgnY9j
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My chest starts to hurt, my eyes are burning, but I owe him an answer. I brought this up.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7DDc9aKxG
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcHQpG3cpC
I look him dead in the face as my eyes fill with tears once more.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjfgEfUH0n
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIslgRxP4Cg
"He died."
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