Page 71 of Forever Yours

Jessi had been watching our exchange, wearing a similar smile to mine.

“I went into the city the other day to see Times Square. It was chaos. I loved it. The only thing I could do without is the smell. And the subway. The underground stations are too claustrophobic for me.”

I liked small-town life. I would never be a big city person. I needed trees, grass, open spaces, and air that wasn’t thick with exhaust fumes or smog.

Dad finished his breakfast and coffee and placed the dishes in the dishwasher.

“I’m going to cut the grass. Don’t forget you have an appointment at four.”

The dreaded follow-up appointment with my primary care physician.

“Yep.”

Jessi craned her neck when Dad left to make sure he wasn’t in earshot.

“So, are you going to finally tell me what the fuck happened between you and Julien?”

I shoveled pancake into my mouth.

CHAPTER 20

SexyBoyfriend: Thinking of you. Missing you. Loving you always. Forever Yours.

It was the third day without him, but like the other two days before, Julien sent me a video of the sunrise.

Somehow, I knew he would. I’d woken up that morning before dawn, waiting for it.

Julien was courting me. Archaic term, but I called it like it was. He was giving me the space I asked for, but making sure he stayed present in my thoughts.

When I got home Friday afternoon from the doctor’s office, there was a pot of purple heliotrope waiting on the porch with a note that said:“The purple flowers may be small, but their meaning is huge. – J”

Of course, I looked it up. Heliotrope flowers represented eternal love.

And then yesterday, he sent me a poem he wrote.

Gazing into the wonder

That are your eyes,

I see the beauty of sunrises

And stormy, gray skies.

Of churning, crashing waves

Of the deep ocean waters

Of strong, sturdy granite cliffs

On high-top mountain borders,

Of glorious, shimmering stars

Only seen in the deepest of night,

Of dusk-colored skies

When the setting sun casts shadows of light.

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