ughn! You're doing what's best for you!" As soon as the door closes behind her, I lose control. I run to my room, slam the door, turn around and punch it repeatedly, each time harder. Whe

me because you thought I was with you out of pity." "I didn't break up with you," she says defensively. I laugh and sit up in bed. "Like hell I didn't! Her exact words were, 'I don't care if it takes days, weeks, or months.' That's breaking up." "It's not. I was giving you time to think." "Time I didn't need." I lie back down on the pillow and turn to her. "It felt more like a breakup." - Well - she says, looking at me. - Sometimes two people need to be apart to realize how much they need to be together. I take her hand, place it between us, and then stroke it with my thumb. - We're not going to be apart again - I whisper. She looks me in the eyes. - Never. There's a certain vulnerability in the way she looks at me silently. Her eyes scan my face, and her mouth forms a shy smile. She doesn't say anything, but she doesn't need to. In those moments, when it's just me and her and nothing else, I know she truly loves me, from the bottom of her soul. - How was it the first time you saw me? - she asks. - What did you see in me that made you ask me out? And tell me everything, even the bad thoughts. I laugh. - You didn't have any bad thoughts. Nasty thoughts, maybe. But not bad ones. She smiles. - Then you can tell me those too. the introduction I hold the phone to my ear with my shoulder and finish buttoning my shirt. - I promise, Grandma - I say into the phone. "I'm going straight from work on Friday. We were supposed to be there at five, but we're running late now. I have to go. I'll call you tomorrow." She says goodbye, and I hang up the phone. Caulder walks around the room with his backpack slung over his shoulder and a green plastic helmet on his head, like a soldier. He always tries to bring random accessories to school. Last week when I dropped him off, he got out of the car before I realized he had a holster on. I reach over and pull the helmet off his head and toss it on the couch. "Caulder, get in the car. I need to get my stuff." Caulder leaves the house, and I grab all the papers that are scattered on the counter. I've b