Page 56 of A Love Song for Liars

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My soul splinters with every inch yougain

Until you’re at thebottom

The words I wrote privately spill out, fill the silentroom.

My tongue has swelled to twice its normal size as I sneak a look over the top of the page. Everyone’s staring, but there’s only one gaze that drags mine like amagnet.

Tyler’s sitting back in his seat, his posture casual, but his face is anything but. A muscle tics in his jaw, those dark eyes sparking with emotion. He’s still as a statue, but beneath the surface, he’sroiling.

Still, you don’tstop

You find the edges of my deep, thecracks

You peel it back, toss each piece over yourshoulder

As if each one isn’t a layer of myheart

Hold my breath while you lookinside

Hold my breath while you meet myeyes

I might wear my heart on my sleeve, but this is somethingnew.

Perfecttransparency.

I’m stretched thin, a spider web ready to tear in the lightestbreeze.

But it’s not for Tyler—it’s forme.

Each word is clearer, more deliberate than the onebefore.

Each emotion is more raw, but my hands have stoppedshaking.

It’s too much, toodeep

I see thatnow

You rise and I take yourplace

I throw the pieces back inside, make a new floor and keepgoing

Without looking up, I know you’regone

And I’malone

Wondering if it was my fault to dig thatdeep

I’m throbbing when Ifinish.

Still, a part of me remains intact, as if I’ve peeled away the layers of my heart, leaving only the most vital parts, and seen for the first time the wonder it trulyis.

I fold the piece of paper, the piece of my soul, and walk back to myseat.

For the rest of class, I ignore everything and stare straight ahead. I don’t talk to anyone until Pen and I go off campus forlunch.

“Jenna stole your notebook,” she says once we’re sitting outside thecafé.

“No,” I say firmly. “It was in my drawer this morning. I would’ve noticed it was missing. She ripped out thepage.”

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