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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwJ8ZdYgTi
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIt3t7f6RS
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JkRSLrJL7
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RqvrhwIUB
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEn6BySgPy
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagr8yTgNQa
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanWGw2Teor
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiFTxP1o7A
"Fuck," I hiss, bending over.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTsHP8bdYk
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnefJE5mibH
This is what you get for not eating dinner last night. Gas pains.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWe1SlIk8Qp
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7LgTvnreP
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).541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LxMpPgOzW
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEeFqnqua1
So, back to David. What does he do? For some reason, I wouldn't be surprised if he was into some shady shit. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgTwqEiPda
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMW4WD0sL5
Oh, well. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnE8BRoPpL
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7sqhSeEjA
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe6D54o3M6
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrkgjPtaGH
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW18GbQmSoP
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNwcuXzrBS
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'. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWtupYPDDX
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMjb2URt2b
I have no idea why my eating patterns are so random — they aren't affected by my mood or period, they just seem inconsistent.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Cvd7TYByI
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeNmITERf1
After I finish and wash up the plates, I go back to my room and check my phone.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSWxYGyhGO
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWazE95RKNe
I have two missed calls from none other than Marcus.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wIv8dRFGc
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7O3kgyxMZ
"Answer your goddamn phone," he growls when I call him back.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpa0BlFDkA
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WqP2l5Wnh
"Whatever. Why are you calling me?"541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KxHoQ77OQ
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rpAYfk5d2
"You have a new job offering. It's an event. But—"541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lfwulGJNI
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmst4fwQxmX
"I—"541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXM4876reR
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡds1wissQxQ
"But—"541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzSQkvgFpv
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHwV6PUvKt
"You—"541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWykGq1Qrs
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3l5SOdH3eJ
"But," he says, drawing out the word so that I will let him continue.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjLVIsKLZ9
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5VXvsWFCM
I shut up.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuRmfmySEF
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEHBY1IBgn
"It's a free speaking/poetry open mic event. They're offering thirty thousand, because they're a little low on funding, but—"541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnOoPXdXJK
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksra8vyhhA
"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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3x71qjUBaA
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEgnWyR4g8
"Great. It's on Thursday coming at nine p.m. I'll text you the address and remember to get there early."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh51a8AbsAb
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfv0QYx8Smq
"Yes, sir!" I say in mock salute.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeBx1hCEQa
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcviGfOQ76s
I hear him laugh through the phone.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp884BNwcUM
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdguQRRw64p
"By, Leah."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fFdOmtGbY
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdkE0eXSGA
"Bye."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9pJwIyoAM
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFaDtxLN0k
I sigh as I hang up the phone. Today is Monday. What is it with all of the late bookings? 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OWh0uxGSY
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrDM1WsIHe
Well, at least you aren't broke anymore.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CmDVLQWgF
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs88relz8h
With that optimistic thought in mind, I go back to the kitchen for another cup of coffee.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiLuGQHO7h
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ612mUSUxGO
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEx1k5bz7Pt
***541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDz2B7XgxHX
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkgtdMt0aa
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaBjYp3sc6
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6U5Aqr5XD
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVPJlCn3AP
"Hello, you must be Leah," says a young woman who has just approached me, dressed in a pair of jeans and a grey blouse.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kr4LwsMty
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDE5MbCTJU8
"Good evening. Andrea, right?" I ask. That's the name Marcus gave me.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPUIFQDjOw
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnF8Ao1xafc
"Yes," she replies, and begins to walk, so naturally, I walk with her.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlgZR3c1Mv
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPrcnhVQ9f
"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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDBJhwmBLn
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVbvbEBrnO
Well that's an odd offer. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrEoKL7hs3
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6X3s2ZEEM
I sigh and place my camera bag on a table near to me and start to set up my camera.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPd3OlYGJx
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iFaSNDSbC
"Leah," I hear in a voice that is all to familiar.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRxY8LRDVb
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95gwLrSeMS
"David?" I reply, spinning to face him. "What are you doing here?"541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE85Kqw6F83
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaP4Ea52Xv
"I come here all the time," he replies, his eyebrows knitted together, "and I love poetry."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHQLHn3kcf
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8i6scoXdEH
"So do I."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7cmktkErD
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt0uOmJ6gE
I now have my camera in my hand, and I remember the pressing question that I had for him.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggIB2cOTVp
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdeeA6zhqm
"What do you do for a living?" I blurt out.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39UF4FbgaV
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1seYK7wmnD
To be honest, I'm prepared to hear anything; from a drug dealer, to a pimp. I wouldn't judge him, though.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAnSU0mUNi
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJO75wTjEK
"I'm a graphic designer."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaTkPXKbBZ
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsOH3Aw4FM
Well I wasn't expecting that.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2HnKTa0XT
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡus9Zcf6njV
"I also sell ganja on the side. I have links with a ganja farmer."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUiG2ycQ4s
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfKOMzQL88
That's more like it.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvHYCXvfD0
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CZjBGI2Yq
We stand there in silence for a few seconds, and then he clears his throat.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡse4nHjkAsp
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2cV2ZdGp6
"I have to, use the bathroom. See you later."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRrPNa6inc
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MdCVcKWo7
"Okay. Bye."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeL1W1FuOSF
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQkdhTYeI7
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kk1O5dSXu
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSycMdMY4Kl
"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?"541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDazcLARth7
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNoRI2M7xu
A young girl around my age walks awkwardly up to the stage, and performs a dramatic rendition of Dry Foot Bwoy by Louise Bennett.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUaw3Kt3Nn
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5LDpkTJ59
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. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd24C7HrGxp
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdM3oyd0Mq
Then, a tall gentleman steps onto the stage.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibJfpnwINH
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyo36NSCbdN
"Hello. My name is Henry."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYKr3wyO4n
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbgIrIy7QC
People in the crowd say their greetings.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaHjWqtgta
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjz8ZIEScu
"Tonight, I will be performing a free verse poem I wrote."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAXvad0qza
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EVljDcJ6L
He clears his voice, then begins.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CAZXd9zOg
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ofDcz1joO
"Have you ever been in love?541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOjaBXGPFZ
Had your soul so deeply entwined541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1qBkFmIOQ
With another's541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DEAebrPyo
That you cannot figure where yours ends541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZM3JtDCzA
And theirs begins?541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsNPoPm14V
So madly and deeply in love541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlS1XuMQDpz
That that person's heart beats with yours;541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfznJa2hBp
Just looking at them is blinding; 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu04OoF0K7
It's like staring at a supernova 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlgnnl6OHv
But you do it anyway541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMXK1IYwQs
Because when she's there541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR031wbJ8ux
Logic and Reason die."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjCOk284QK
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4doaDkIUc1
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKBmFyUfIh
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aKYxitE2G
"Now imagine what it feels like 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJlL6slVLW
To have that person541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdIIe4lLXY
Ripped 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPzLwCgyam
From your life;541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkp4n6b9dn5
Torn away from you.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7VFj2akc1
You can't breathe. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYaMWEdG6b
You're dead, yet you aren't,541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EvRE9vfC8
You still 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeb3pdBh0vd
Walk541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiYiaqVL2F
Talk541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddNxbCcfqk
Interact 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbY1SnM7Cg
With the people around you,541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4DXaqaQe9
But on the on the inside, 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrQ3LSUYz9
You're hollow;541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWIoIu1fnz
Dead."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4R13IvBwu
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeMHL4492y
This is not how my night was supposed to go.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJNgCYzo8E
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGWhW1TYim
"It's been ten years,541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcgir7EP1o
My love, 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF6g3b9kzx
And every day, 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDGO5KfgPy
Every hour, 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpu1JlLMtJ
Every second without you 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Lz5fO8Q0D
Feels like 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeseerc22z
Torture."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUL1bhFm54
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIOswhfV8t
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsv0iT2a81n
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CK1xBCflO
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebzyxfF6P1
"I would ask for 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaPxXELLNw
Forgiveness,541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcbmIL5ySt
But I can see that you've... 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Z7mCcQxqM
Moved on, 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6TE1XoiNI
And found happiness elsewhere. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrftnY6896
And I have to live541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwahiAwTxv
With the consequences 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlo6OzEUUxL
Of my stupid actions 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cLwEpCrwC
For the rest of my life. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAptILxXM68
I have to live with this 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNcbwSAJl2
Torture, 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhd1O5SJhP
This 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70CqJlQOfy
Pain,541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOg5rD7Qhwz
Because I have never stopped,541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8XQTARl3b
Loving 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1cGfrnSwP
You,541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4i7nuleUuU
And I don't think I ever will."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcInoTVN6nR
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEqkq46KuI
By the end of the poem, I feel like I might drop my camera.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡep9MK0Wakv
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMy3PnoHwN5
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6TtQpdLWu
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuxFWrHejq
Tears fill and spill over my eyes as the audience applaud Henry; I can no longer see Henry through the viewfinder of my camera.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5Rk5eWbuh
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxg3ktRqEmL
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2clX0XSgj
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwMeOghCAU
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMTmukUVQp
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs60FhkkDdu
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD5oJh00jR
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cpyAQGduF
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fUSPRyTgZ
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIINWi4aGsS
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpszL9vtj7G
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk572gwVjkn
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZcnMiGjcu
***541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGqTixHj8x
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bJINICREE
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXrDXSDUle
We finally pull apart, and he looks at me cautiously, as if I'll break.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRYQcndnIj
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXn7ht0nG9
"I'm okay," I say to reassure him.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjbpALw1ZY
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEngXsopEE
He doesn't look convinced.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7rau757NN
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu4uxsSqBz
I look down at the ground and sigh, then look back at him. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdwaC3tOJr
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHeuw1gS5e
Then I realise he isn't holding my camera.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVC6LpOoxK
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGRB1AuzKT
"Where's my camera?" I ask frantically.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRAeeqc6EG
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJslmmr5cy
He nods behind me, and I see my camera bag sitting on a table behind us. I sigh loudly in relief.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91mIL3gg43
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5Ua6JhMvg
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0jSa6Mkzi
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7BCg7vxg1
"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." 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveaccAsDua
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwhC4BA6Rf
I'm hyperventilating.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOsDtt0jAt
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEvIJIwQfa
"Breathe, Leah. Take deep, steady breaths," he says to me while rubbing circles into my back.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6tcAln0bw
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxcKDqemoA
When I finally calm down he speaks again.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgddEABWpph
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84iMWv3Pkr
"If you don't mind telling me... what happened?"541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfaJzWoPe2
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrs0Ogwcu1
My chest starts to hurt, my eyes are burning, but I owe him an answer. I brought this up.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QHA0s9Mpq
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXL6K4RJRw
I look him dead in the face as my eyes fill with tears once more.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOS4g6XIKH
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoDFcqdJqY
"He died."
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