Page 19 of Broken

You’ve no idea how much of a lifeline you’ve been to me. You broke up the days and nights of pain I’ve endured. Thoughts of you helped me make it to the finish line.

This letter is a touch obsolete, but I’m going to send it anyway. Maybe I’ll be with you when you tear open the envelope… Maybe I’ll be sitting in your lap…

I can only hope.

I’m still unsure of how to bring about our initial meeting.

Perhaps I should stop by for confession… Do you want to hear my sins, Father?

I’ve often wondered if hearing confession is tedious. I doubt mine would be… Savio.

Yes. Savio.

Now that I’m in Rome, I think we should be on a first-name basis, don’t you?

I’ll be seeing you soon, Savio.

Yours,

Andrea

PART TWO

Deuteronomy 1:9

You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone.

CHAPTER 13

Savio

Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) - Train

“Now, my children, don’t forget about the food bank. We’re running low on stock, so any donations will be most appreciated.” As expected, I lose their interest, but I persevere, gaze drifting from pew to pew. “We’re helping a side of our community which is suffering greatly now thanks to the drop in tourism?—”

That’s when I see her sitting in the back corner.

She didn’t come for communion because she wasn’t waiting in line for the sacrament.

I’m not sure when she arrived.

The church is small in size, but the cavernous nave is dark, and the altar is bright thanks to its south-facing position.

If I’m in a pool of light, I can’t see the back of the church without difficulty.

So, she’d either watched the service or sneaked in.

And yes, I use that word on purpose.

Sneaked.

She doesn’t belong here.

Every instinct in my body screams at me that she doesn’t as her presence alone is a temptation I can’t face.

She’s. The. Woman.

Andrea Jura.

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