Page 59 of Next Time I Fall (Excess All Areas 2)

Make me a self-fulfilling prophecy

He kicks me,

I want him to kick you.

Let there be a net for me to slip through.

But pain’s all I get,

and you’re not aware yet.

My brother, where the fuck were you?”

Am I him or am I me?

Is his legacy all that I will ever be?

Did burying deep inside of me,

Make me a self-fulfilling prophecy

So quick to anger,

I mirror you in so many ways,

But if anyone had given a shit,

This wouldn’t be it,

And my life wouldn’t be reduced to this.

So you see,

Am I him or am I me?

Is his legacy all that I will ever be?

Did burying deep inside of me,

Make me a self-fulfilling prophecy

Self-fulfilling prophecy.

The song faded out.

He tried not to worry about the waver in his voice, the imperfection he’d heard in his playing. The crescendo Cerys had been able to create.

Silence filled the room. His heart pounded with sickening thuds in his chest. He blew out a breath, heard somewhere in the recess of his mind Cerys encouraging him to just stand with it. To not give in to the jitters making his fingers vibrate, making his knees shake.

A hand squeezed his shoulder, and he jumped. From the black nail polish and rings on the knuckles, he knew it was Alex.

“Holy shit, Jase.”

Jase nodded. “Yeah.” He let out a breath, and then another. Then he turned to face the others. “I’ve been a complete dick. For a long while. Self-preservation. I’m sorry. I can’t guarantee I’m not going to be a dick again. But I’m working on it.”

Matt leaned forward with one hand rubbing across his forehead.

Look up.

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