el

g with the man I was

band in the n

air that wasn't feeling

to head b

ian, it is getting quite late

before you.

s to him before I made m

to turn back for any forgo

k as I walked out

't p

t hes

els clicked against the pavement, each step louder than

voice cut thr

ely

t because I

still remembered

ned s

s door, sunlight catching the arroganc

, are you?" he asked. Not "Are

ga

word.

d turne

it was suppose

a tell hi

shing for confirmation that I was sti

who'd erase h

his

Just one wor

taking th

d it. A flicker of confusion. Of threat. Like a ch

e-expensive, familiar-wrapped around me like a noose. "You wor

you want to be pr

n't f

't b

d once made me feel like a

. "Just not the

rn." Then, like flipping a switch, his voice turned syrup-swe

or

hat he c

g my lo

ing up

ith cold shoulders

he'd say when I dare

ready in his pocket-waiting

scramble: "Yes, Julian. I'll

t... look

thumb tapped

e concern

r loved me-he'd loved

to go,

plana

apo

ll cal

ned m

ed a

t call a

't c

se thread he assumed he

m thin

stranger bumped my shoulder and muttered "sorry." I kept walk

step, the truth

ping surgery

ing it to s

my face to a surgeon lik

whispered as the ane

o

my face lik

ne. And it

buzzed

't che

t nee

what

ust checki

ap disguis

kept w

ould later cry about being "

ere he'd propose

t of the life I

Mom still lived, where the quilt she made f

was taking the

r stop trying

r forget how

door cli

lled across

pped

d the

in hours , I felt the

ree from drama