Page 103 of Last Fall

“I reached out to my old college roommate just to see how she was doing. Turned out she was engaged and living in Tampa. She invited me to come visit. She said I’d love the city. It was the first time I could see myself in a new life.” I dreamt big after that. I decided that in Tampa I would become a writer. “He came home one day and blamed me for his deal going to shit. Apparently he didn’t sleep well and that was somehow my fault. I had enough money to leave, a place to go, and a bag packed. The next morning after he left for work I packed a couple more boxesandleft.”

Erik finally sat beside me. “That’sit?”

“That’s it. I have not heard one word from himsince.”

Erik threaded his fingers between mine. “Have you lookedhimup?”

“Twice. Just to make sure he was still in Texas and too busy to careaboutme.”

He nodded but didn’t say anything. Not for several minutes. “Thank you for trusting me with allofthis.”

“Belle said it wouldn’t ruin us and that I had todoit.”

He smiled, glancing up at me. “You talked toBelle?”

“Yeah. She really wants us to be happy.” And I didn’t think it was just for her own benefit, no matter what she said. In a strange way it felt like she was supposed to be in my life, too. Like we were soul sisters orsomething.

“I want us to be happy, too.” He lay back on the pillow and pulled me onto hischest.

I was already happy. Thinking back over the last few years really put things in perspective. In my darkest time I dreamt up a new life, made it a goal, and now I waslivingit.

It was hard and oh, so scary, butworthit.

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