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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiOP7Qrx9V
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt2NxE7s5C
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBq7DsMquI
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj81Kqx0JRz
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJrriOJQfW
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitFvsJeboD
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcFi9KHW1F
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVA5ENPNVx5
"Fuck," I hiss, bending over.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJv6aXxyVM
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0N7hgXL36z
This is what you get for not eating dinner last night. Gas pains.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaE3X7a9wuO
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3mDX8cue0
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).540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzZ1cHJq2F
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ATfBH1Dou
So, back to David. What does he do? For some reason, I wouldn't be surprised if he was into some shady shit. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u7nGKKynI
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSI6HaqYrf
Oh, well. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyNMfcOWH6
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkr6zBcNbd
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasN8PFbvcV
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lrdwq1TTL
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipJOsThlcP
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbM3LYQCRm
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'. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAjg0oTV45
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9v032TG0r4
I have no idea why my eating patterns are so random — they aren't affected by my mood or period, they just seem inconsistent.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4NmCnEv07
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIPME3rREP
After I finish and wash up the plates, I go back to my room and check my phone.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvWg027Rxf
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ7nPtKNkM
I have two missed calls from none other than Marcus.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoJOk8Zfrx
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceFwc7jWPF
"Answer your goddamn phone," he growls when I call him back.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zAmSzcibA
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28CyFbohPN
"Whatever. Why are you calling me?"540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpS1GxG5d4
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjtBHW3rbQ
"You have a new job offering. It's an event. But—"540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMtYoQr5ol
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16zziuW4HB
"I—"540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LmNsLcl9P
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKTyGqbe5S
"But—"540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBjoJVaMPU
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFeydJVy5n
"You—"540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4woLR5juL5
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3CAFUGCAx
"But," he says, drawing out the word so that I will let him continue.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBvBvk5Xhj
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mknklnMXK
I shut up.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiswcq0LBY
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqI35TOciF
"It's a free speaking/poetry open mic event. They're offering thirty thousand, because they're a little low on funding, but—"540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbirXqaXvR7
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOEgIWcTt8
"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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RtFrAIGVB
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpREOsvn0TD
"Great. It's on Thursday coming at nine p.m. I'll text you the address and remember to get there early."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvYgVczMtG
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtJUdAznGV
"Yes, sir!" I say in mock salute.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoVn5gsn5l
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ERJizABd0
I hear him laugh through the phone.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYrJzARAiB
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTwFMCS3no
"By, Leah."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZsB47IDDN
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJBQSXZRhS
"Bye."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0ZuZevoou
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkRRYfcUhX
I sigh as I hang up the phone. Today is Monday. What is it with all of the late bookings? 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16tGdbbHhr
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBP7jRzmES
Well, at least you aren't broke anymore.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWsvr67n9j
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdj0Tz6I7b
With that optimistic thought in mind, I go back to the kitchen for another cup of coffee.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAnNG0ul5V
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Oh4vlb7Hm
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2wyJ9ysvk
***540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGS9TJ1ly1
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfi3T5dNfek
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqko1AlPiC
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcQoxfFlB9
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDbNopS5VW
"Hello, you must be Leah," says a young woman who has just approached me, dressed in a pair of jeans and a grey blouse.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDUwS70R82
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6P57zlc5YW
"Good evening. Andrea, right?" I ask. That's the name Marcus gave me.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpIbECKakc
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMi1FyYCD6
"Yes," she replies, and begins to walk, so naturally, I walk with her.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UtIxg4XnI
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREDVoe2vQ9
"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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHjwaFNAGV
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8ghJREzdK
Well that's an odd offer. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLNFsjGMPQ
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVgi64fAVP
I sigh and place my camera bag on a table near to me and start to set up my camera.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzqnYRzL4t
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe8KpY5mbQ
"Leah," I hear in a voice that is all to familiar.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNsj5d38Vg
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvbfFxjIHC
"David?" I reply, spinning to face him. "What are you doing here?"540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQGdp7OA7Q
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7heDW4PU36
"I come here all the time," he replies, his eyebrows knitted together, "and I love poetry."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSYffyeGKZ
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosmlPoq9a4
"So do I."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJghlsuPSl
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lEY6RfJEl
I now have my camera in my hand, and I remember the pressing question that I had for him.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjIaBG3Iiy
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOJDRv8bIl
"What do you do for a living?" I blurt out.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIoEqp33jn
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡba4gWzpu6F
To be honest, I'm prepared to hear anything; from a drug dealer, to a pimp. I wouldn't judge him, though.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOPaYu1Rrg
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg1PSFyfnw
"I'm a graphic designer."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ywCvSo16j
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IzRal4xAb
Well I wasn't expecting that.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08PtvqLdfL
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndCyHQ19hI
"I also sell ganja on the side. I have links with a ganja farmer."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCns2JEoQf
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLpcaP9inM
That's more like it.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQxckwYNMz
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnEdrOi7zH
We stand there in silence for a few seconds, and then he clears his throat.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGYhsz2aTm
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoCvPHRCOH
"I have to, use the bathroom. See you later."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ym21meC4q
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZ4kBudsHL
"Okay. Bye."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoIgvne1Z2
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkWnal7Raf
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSqUCzLTtC
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEfw95LYgT
"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?"540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPdflttzlt
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTV4hyhTYW
A young girl around my age walks awkwardly up to the stage, and performs a dramatic rendition of Dry Foot Bwoy by Louise Bennett.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsrOSaKww8
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDRWoTwfpS
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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkToGQBeE5C
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPoFDRAY9t
Then, a tall gentleman steps onto the stage.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuQJ4XXl51
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIEJzDagya
"Hello. My name is Henry."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYVGL824hn
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBLMRyKWSW
People in the crowd say their greetings.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhagh6oS3Pm
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FPTfefbkq
"Tonight, I will be performing a free verse poem I wrote."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbRtOqMBBk
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv636VTFemW
He clears his voice, then begins.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpDshLp8VS
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynUe4Np3Ic
"Have you ever been in love?540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHtsN0SutP
Had your soul so deeply entwined540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3b3g8sw3h
With another's540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwqpwm9NBe
That you cannot figure where yours ends540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjNtuMKO7P
And theirs begins?540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0HlKK5Ssy
So madly and deeply in love540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1uO20G5rT
That that person's heart beats with yours;540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInfx5V1rgP
Just looking at them is blinding; 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2FKxi9KwE
It's like staring at a supernova 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyVrOdOgMx
But you do it anyway540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp6yt38x3r
Because when she's there540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnVNuV2v0y
Logic and Reason die."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpu3ekW9vEi
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqv6yiTZN0
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr8ZeHz1gT
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczv651sztc
"Now imagine what it feels like 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSzMpj93w2
To have that person540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaSjmwGp50
Ripped 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauBSPq4SR8
From your life;540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnqiUY2UkR
Torn away from you.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdzYujjrAG
You can't breathe. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvWyqkeSJ0
You're dead, yet you aren't,540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQvbz0a6bU
You still 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1K9ucu4b7
Walk540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurg22PdBcm
Talk540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcfLrEiNLs
Interact 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzys2xbT5h
With the people around you,540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPUVYhj9ZV
But on the on the inside, 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxbpsBAnMD
You're hollow;540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs15sUNeNgW
Dead."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP31kKkHOuZ
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgt4yZjAYC
This is not how my night was supposed to go.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq2aj4fnP4
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetV9ferRC8
"It's been ten years,540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZzgY3FM0k
My love, 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZyagmkqeN
And every day, 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeMupb6kRp
Every hour, 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrhwhbQRK6
Every second without you 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2SXvEQnxs
Feels like 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuApQiPwnI
Torture."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjd74LTFvs
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kXZv6fDDP
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBorj7iip5
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsuoKLncGY
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqV3y9FjeSk
"I would ask for 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKfdRZ8Rl5
Forgiveness,540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFy2fc9uNhq
But I can see that you've... 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrUvlXJya1
Moved on, 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MxSvj9Dy9
And found happiness elsewhere. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBS8RDdmVdC
And I have to live540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQih6Mqw3S
With the consequences 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZR3GUtD5d
Of my stupid actions 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70JyjkffB5
For the rest of my life. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1GjCkzeUy
I have to live with this 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriBGtCTVhD
Torture, 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT09734e6vJ
This 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTPhLdhvmW
Pain,540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp2a26cvQK
Because I have never stopped,540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBRAFVnG2e
Loving 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgcPSyB2hm
You,540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTrYk1mzQM
And I don't think I ever will."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrZ2ZEhHOa
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVerh4rXzgG
By the end of the poem, I feel like I might drop my camera.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2jer0guuc
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1UK8D7LD6
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lpLGIQBIl
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGx5yZea6PH
Tears fill and spill over my eyes as the audience applaud Henry; I can no longer see Henry through the viewfinder of my camera.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUoOVal4KA
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiDwulDChZ
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQo6Bc5SOxa
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDCWpiPZfJ
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A08Vybbo9
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNikaKp8qo
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQN8g5BmX0T
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmWwVGbzpO
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRPCKJ6hS6
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiIyHaRRz8
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzKkYjm50g
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuw9pfGqY9
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1SKqdhTJd
***540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWh82VZdyE
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD6g9Eoi0r
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI99NS5PatZ
We finally pull apart, and he looks at me cautiously, as if I'll break.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWiYrBnLZ2
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRadJvaWh0z
"I'm okay," I say to reassure him.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMGWmQtnow
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYE0tba1wA
He doesn't look convinced.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2UrYhWn7R
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLzI5P8vZg
I look down at the ground and sigh, then look back at him. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9VX0H6ElZ
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQ8eBuzZuc
Then I realise he isn't holding my camera.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpLoVkEmIp
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfz8QxqE4ma
"Where's my camera?" I ask frantically.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpT2jsnXwY
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnVuH6cioz
He nods behind me, and I see my camera bag sitting on a table behind us. I sigh loudly in relief.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5o7Uf92ULt
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDi9PVLATl
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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjIRSBmuwm
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPBqrOYZ9C
"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." 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSsDwTU2cW
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I'm hyperventilating.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UF0iNS2tg
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"Breathe, Leah. Take deep, steady breaths," he says to me while rubbing circles into my back.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AyLIM0Pum
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When I finally calm down he speaks again.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnD2vlnHOI
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"If you don't mind telling me... what happened?"540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJA9uAerwt
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My chest starts to hurt, my eyes are burning, but I owe him an answer. I brought this up.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BLMy0gq85
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I look him dead in the face as my eyes fill with tears once more.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0XupvUkxo
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7rgQkow4M
"He died."
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