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I just knehat I wasn’t going to do

I wasn’t going to find her

"Well?"

"Uh" I drew in a breath and rattled off h I had no idea what to expect once I actually reached it No one in my family had come to visit me or contact me in any way, not once in seventy-two months They probably had no idea I was out

My hty percent certain of that My dad would pitch a shit fit and most likely slap et lost My brothers and sisterhell, nize nize myself, so they wouldn’t be alone

As we approached the city, I stared out the , identifying some lands I did remember looked different Felt different I tensed when I realized as co drive lined with trees that ended at a stone-set circle drive and introduced the snohite e

When the tree line broke away, there sat his property, as proud and pretentious as ever I sucked in a breath, not expecting the flood of longing, regret, heartache

It tore through uts The breath-stealing sensation lingered as his house just as abruptly disappeared andup

My trees

I clenchedthe ache inrah my mind

If only

No There were no what ifs No should haves No if onlys This was life and how it had happened I had to let go of the past and continue froan to slow I scraped my top teeth over my bottom lip to combat the nerves I actually ached to see s, even our stupid worn-down shack of a home I couldn’t wait to--

The car pulled into a drive

I blinked

"What’s this?" I said, pointing out the , sounding accusative, feeling accusative, as I scowled at the driver