Page 5 of Dear Rosie

Why now, when he’s so close to disappearing from my life, why does Nathan have to ask this question now?

More tears stream from my eyes.

Why has no one else ever asked me this before now?

I shake my head.

There’s no point in telling him.

His mom shouts again.

Nathan looks over his shoulder, then back at me. “Rosie, does he hurt you?”

I shake my head, slower this time, and answer with the best truth I have. “Not like that.”

I can hear the defeat in my tone.

“What does that mean?” He tightens his grip on my shoulder.

But then his mom yells again.

He has to go.

Nathan has to go.

We both know it.

Nathan clenches his teeth.

I’m still crying.

I can’t stop crying.

But they’re silent tears now.

The kind you can’t control.

The kind you can barely feel.

The ones that just come and come and don’t stop.

“You have to go.” My words come out scratchy.

“I don’t want to.” Nathan’s tone is so sincere that it makes everything worse.

I try to shrug. Because he might not want to. But he will.

Everyone leaves.

Nathan steps back, his hand slipping free from my shoulder.

The place where his palm was feels cold.

“I’m sorry, Rosie.”

His mom shouts his name, sharper this time.

Nathan’s mouth twists, his hazel eyes full of words, but he doesn’t say any of them.

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