thought of forgetting-of anything that didn't remind me of the life I'd le

t the other part of me that had been set loose by alcohol, asked me wh

ed my voice until it became sort of se

lashed with a glint of mischi

ed smile. I was beginning to like this game. "Nic

You're not so

ere old lovers. Or maybe it was just the alcohol making everythin

ng closer to him, I didn'

s brushed against my ear as he whispered hoars

nswer: "You are wastin

ing and the only time I swore in frustration was when I f

ld feel my body reacting to him-no thought

sed before his hands were on me. His touch was ur

anger or that I was about to do something very

all I cared ab

nside me. He didn't stop me. Rather, he mirrored my urgency and pulled me against him, his kiss deep

e our bodies spoke a language I hadn't known I w

the heat that surrounded him consumed me. I gave myself over to

escape, and I was taking

sleep by my side, I found myself picking up my things an

at him for the last time because damn it, he

isky. Looking back woul

as so fucking done

a distraction.

e only thing he

n in my life. Only space for revenge

**

in Los Angeles. It wasn't easy-hell, it was brutal. But I knew I couldn

rtment, refusing to talk to anyone but then,

create...something that was mine. It wasn't much at first-just a small

, I would force myself to wake up and face the day, no matter how much I wanted to sink b

coffee shop I frequented, said as she slid into the chair across from me a

n, this feeling of validation but I wasn't going to let it show. "

hat, right?" She grinned and I could

l victory but

m starting to

very new message of encouragement, I b

as working late on a new design when th

ake sense of it, I collapsed to the floor. My body f

room where the faint scent of antiseptic stung in the air. My bo

g on here? I thought a

side my bed and she che

"You've been dehydrated and overexerting you

ied to be conscious of what was happening arou

ts and we think we'

asked, "What

e preg