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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajEi1G3ZC1
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhp3pjZJWa
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vBC0BDxaJ
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU05uHvBk6O
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyauOcro5Mi
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCScN3dJAU
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBQBC4PViF
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnt86bdgHBM
"Fuck," I hiss, bending over.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgijyJWWAb
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvu6AVOn75
This is what you get for not eating dinner last night. Gas pains.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyB7H6WYExK
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YsGrfbE6S
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).504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLCP3ZBR6H
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtPiGxbUG5
So, back to David. What does he do? For some reason, I wouldn't be surprised if he was into some shady shit. 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WQKYUqOHR
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOKrcgrCY4
Oh, well. 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOjIV9VNEh
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYcO1uGrdF
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKenPfQGFr
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIdpuJcMpz
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPHwzOdlYg
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrWUyICRup
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'. 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGfyuQCcRX
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBN6JcDpbQ
I have no idea why my eating patterns are so random — they aren't affected by my mood or period, they just seem inconsistent.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHJs9OP3tp
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeku63Io5XQ
After I finish and wash up the plates, I go back to my room and check my phone.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNGNb7I3Cg
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TR2fIBCBk
I have two missed calls from none other than Marcus.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eIrzPf4nc
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqG0fekoCG
"Answer your goddamn phone," he growls when I call him back.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEByqytaLQ5
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwDgyvCovP
"Whatever. Why are you calling me?"504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOH6oFe3m2
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUY5ZPBePt
"You have a new job offering. It's an event. But—"504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyfU8QPaUi
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeudqs9XVkX
"I—"504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dpn2q1Tiq
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzln2usko2
"But—"504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOwyuzUdSs
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerkD5ONXRJ
"You—"504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Um4dibe4I
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOS7BMb5FiX
"But," he says, drawing out the word so that I will let him continue.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToDQxy9Hk0
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIRdjV7nBB
I shut up.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36Gt19ydaJ
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcftPImvnA
"It's a free speaking/poetry open mic event. They're offering thirty thousand, because they're a little low on funding, but—"504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DpPLlJNna
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7gLsPAR6h
"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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXcG7LJ2Lj
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuf5wfZI1xP
"Great. It's on Thursday coming at nine p.m. I'll text you the address and remember to get there early."504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYpdqFpiDh
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgaNgPPVRP
"Yes, sir!" I say in mock salute.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPvypXWmYk
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1vrUe6LjC
I hear him laugh through the phone.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZZBaAWpop
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaglOSvPy3e
"By, Leah."504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnasXeTF97
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFCfMuKE0c
"Bye."504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAdzCw4XRu
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJMmoxMHej
I sigh as I hang up the phone. Today is Monday. What is it with all of the late bookings? 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljC7dPJuos
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogG5yOt8M3
Well, at least you aren't broke anymore.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2kBtRZJoy
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXvV1CsnwO
With that optimistic thought in mind, I go back to the kitchen for another cup of coffee.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFNAEdhw7E
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOV8ERqLeG
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDW0zU7HJPs
***504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4UMWuZjti
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNgvLg6PXB
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1120HWNm9
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQReas4t3b
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5J3KmC5WN
"Hello, you must be Leah," says a young woman who has just approached me, dressed in a pair of jeans and a grey blouse.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndrOwAc0wP
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBoR5q4KWO
"Good evening. Andrea, right?" I ask. That's the name Marcus gave me.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4mbS3r2vm
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoH9vr5Kib
"Yes," she replies, and begins to walk, so naturally, I walk with her.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvvSSRvX7h
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmyBBgDMw0
"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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiqlrijGnG
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzW8UaLvSY
Well that's an odd offer. 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXL4QiaScV
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs47vc5OvKF
I sigh and place my camera bag on a table near to me and start to set up my camera.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBeab1KwQv
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdZHsafl9x
"Leah," I hear in a voice that is all to familiar.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGy4YGAySGy
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKmSq1cATZ
"David?" I reply, spinning to face him. "What are you doing here?"504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqcH5zFXzQ
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNblDhrLToh
"I come here all the time," he replies, his eyebrows knitted together, "and I love poetry."504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzV5pZoLE7
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcysoHJGig
"So do I."504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxBuoDBAkC
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNZYluVoVM
I now have my camera in my hand, and I remember the pressing question that I had for him.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRaXpHh1wS
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMK93tYVS3d
"What do you do for a living?" I blurt out.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtx7jpD3YT
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBdUzkwJj3
To be honest, I'm prepared to hear anything; from a drug dealer, to a pimp. I wouldn't judge him, though.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH6KOCJtSi
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrVhRRb2Cu
"I'm a graphic designer."504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1D6tTCZoR
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvRix93WWG
Well I wasn't expecting that.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8y3Qi7CNJ
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7a66MNlWs
"I also sell ganja on the side. I have links with a ganja farmer."504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwssHQclo9O
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN0aUotRw4
That's more like it.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTDBVq3zTs
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZkyz6gFoc
We stand there in silence for a few seconds, and then he clears his throat.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJaOHK777n
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YM2IgPhRD
"I have to, use the bathroom. See you later."504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIRX1GKSYu
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsfBAtcpCn
"Okay. Bye."504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JWgRmWFUg
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPUZHfwHhK
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGoAbbxqrJ
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9VRl4DYFF
"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?"504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhKlikEjKw
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lt47vVDkh
A young girl around my age walks awkwardly up to the stage, and performs a dramatic rendition of Dry Foot Bwoy by Louise Bennett.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhFzOsLAri
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEei23bbxT
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. 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFArILXFGm
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqLXpPfFTw
Then, a tall gentleman steps onto the stage.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCLzSnU4Rg
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmR5MMAR9sh
"Hello. My name is Henry."504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNu8B1JBPNx
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78PcTh3OrU
People in the crowd say their greetings.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rx28MbA1j
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PicBBs3Qq
"Tonight, I will be performing a free verse poem I wrote."504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nMfEEo8qd
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3UBwC1CTn
He clears his voice, then begins.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNvi7Nw3nK
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1NX8mFcOp
"Have you ever been in love?504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WPyzDiw9o
Had your soul so deeply entwined504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRwS3i9T2V
With another's504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5a2lSIxeG
That you cannot figure where yours ends504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLcsNoRHOB
And theirs begins?504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D2tkape7e
So madly and deeply in love504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNeoK1Tjxf
That that person's heart beats with yours;504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRpgsnA0Z5
Just looking at them is blinding; 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLM2RxluQn
It's like staring at a supernova 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OSEaxvIOV
But you do it anyway504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCyLFSEVgr
Because when she's there504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnDa4jMAwx
Logic and Reason die."504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq1WlZZJIv
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01ZQWF377O
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraJGKmC6qI
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCrIsTkQPd
"Now imagine what it feels like 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlosKn7j7V
To have that person504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBLJ0BAdd9
Ripped 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNY2rOKKIy
From your life;504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSC5bsMfOPw
Torn away from you.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKBLbAkXWu
You can't breathe. 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Pd09gbjC6
You're dead, yet you aren't,504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu34nRE7wSA
You still 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTIXDxSxn8
Walk504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJpwh4WgTK
Talk504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTGTOvejdE
Interact 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoeIcXpdmu
With the people around you,504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvngEXYcjP
But on the on the inside, 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXibZG7hPA0
You're hollow;504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmf7TRYjWs2
Dead."504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoJKoH5pfr
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c94xQalwC
This is not how my night was supposed to go.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynRgzUUmsq
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNVyM0zItD
"It's been ten years,504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSCQljx8b2
My love, 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyRFYNl0rz
And every day, 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbPwCdLABd
Every hour, 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vJOuJQR0q
Every second without you 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KIr6Lbwcs
Feels like 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RODS4S7ga
Torture."504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBmcvYxB3Z
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4yaY6ZO18
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpw9hnbfN1Z
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLPunfdEkx
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Az0WSZhOk
"I would ask for 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejBr9nh1hL
Forgiveness,504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKE2RSBthf
But I can see that you've... 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOlSgMUqQf
Moved on, 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMp7PpXuIO2
And found happiness elsewhere. 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49ZfFMTv4x
And I have to live504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfyDvUlPjW
With the consequences 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoF3NXonD3
Of my stupid actions 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcQczAkof3
For the rest of my life. 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4DMMHcA2s
I have to live with this 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bSb9eNL8d
Torture, 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6LrqMnGxU
This 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdis4VaXlD
Pain,504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8tGvW9SmI
Because I have never stopped,504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡww0f8JuXZp
Loving 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEZAGtY15K
You,504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCfygRIM1s
And I don't think I ever will."504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0D0nQwJao
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBFoEsiVGn
By the end of the poem, I feel like I might drop my camera.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJVGb0imk4
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBJaHhiFTQ
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aQ2s6Aiap
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQnAOnYPZk
Tears fill and spill over my eyes as the audience applaud Henry; I can no longer see Henry through the viewfinder of my camera.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsfALNuvAA
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLujYQvtlI
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzYvAf5Rrd
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEHzHfLU6v
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPLkE2QeWN
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorG5Ohn0Jm
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7HCstdMhi
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NWethxwlo
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtBDJLm6zW
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnP0cxr5YRI
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HgCSO0zJn
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgcMa38Mwc
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUlPBnPw7c
***504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj18HpGaros
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkiBhZBMBU
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YM09sMqbn
We finally pull apart, and he looks at me cautiously, as if I'll break.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DE3Kfc3OK
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUulkrMarx
"I'm okay," I say to reassure him.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0T9ecWsKw
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfUYq4w7vX
He doesn't look convinced.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuPqRivrDh
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07O3oWdird
I look down at the ground and sigh, then look back at him. 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95szaRdrx7
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LuuhQK9et
Then I realise he isn't holding my camera.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0KFQeYwKA
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXV1yClD37M
"Where's my camera?" I ask frantically.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsB8NhN8ta
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1f2panCYl
He nods behind me, and I see my camera bag sitting on a table behind us. I sigh loudly in relief.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqPSXByUAe
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFa3kuKO8d
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.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0l1lGixUlY
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hVz9FmJzf
"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." 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNYnRZUH4N
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I'm hyperventilating.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HvzciUDDC
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"Breathe, Leah. Take deep, steady breaths," he says to me while rubbing circles into my back.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Fb9eY0PMF
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When I finally calm down he speaks again.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhosUYnjlky
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"If you don't mind telling me... what happened?"504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7BcWl6CvH
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My chest starts to hurt, my eyes are burning, but I owe him an answer. I brought this up.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oB44sXYjc
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I look him dead in the face as my eyes fill with tears once more.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSfqiWKEME
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"He died."
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