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The Lonely Tara Brown 29140K 2023-08-31

He rolls his eyes, "Girls You’re so fickle The right one The ical kiss The special so-bullshit You have youryourself to love us for e are is ridiculous"

I raise uy who hasn’t dated since twelfth grade Jake told me"

His face flushes like e I just put myself into my work He’s one to talk anyway, he bloody orks for h at his red face He wrinkles his nose and sneers, "You’re still a little brat"

I stick ue out

But behind it all, I know their lives were stunted because of our situation I was taken and everything else was hard I’ht

I take a deep breath and grip her hand I look down and nod, "Do it"

She rings the bell

A man in a suit answers the door

"Hello How lish accent and reminds me of Niles on The Nanny I love Netfilx

"We called about rin "Uhht up, "Of course Yes Please co you" My heart is in my throat He opens the door more and alk in The home is posh and overly fancy I feel like I’m at a hotel I can’t afford

He leads us to a study where a thin wo for us Aso, but in a rich sort of way

The woman in the pantsuit turns as we are announced, "Miss Master a Master room" She rushes at me and puts her hands out, "You must be Sarah" Her eyes are icy-blue like Eli’s Her smile is cold and distant She never fully warms up I don’t think I nod, "I a me"

She shakes her head, "Gloria Please call me Gloria"

His father stands and offers me his hand, "And call e warm hand "It’s nice to meet you both This is my friend Michelle"

She waves, "Hi"

They look phony and cold when they greet her, "Hello" They almost talk like they too have accents They enunciate everything Mrs Adams’ blue eyes sparkle, "We were so pleased when you called" I see a flash of pain or so in her eyes

I nod, "I was scared you wouldn’t want to see me"

She shakes her head, "We never blamed you Dear child, never"

His father srateful you existed at all Poor Eli was considered quite ht it and shake my head, "It was me" The words are breathy and soft

His father’s response is not one I expected He grabs my chin and points my face at his, "You saved her You freed her"

I’iveness I want a clean conscience I have confessed and wish to be absolved by god, not theive rateful you are here" She wraps her arms around me I’m stunned Even more stunned when his ariven

"Tea is served" I’ve never been grateful for that statement before but I a roo behind Franklin It too feels like the set of an Austen ilded frames and sculptures and chairs that feel like they haven’t been broken in yet, regardless of being a hundred years old

I sit and take the tea on a plate with a cookie I don’t knohat I’m supposed to do with it I stare down at the black tea and dread drinking it

Shell holds hers up, "Can I get soar please"

Franklin looks appalled "It’s got honey and le

I stir the cup and try not to let the set near my face It reminds me of the cell a bit

"Have you heard from Eli?" his mother asks casually, as if we hadn’t all just cried

I nod, "A couple weeks ago He was in a village building houses with so with some doctors fro and stuff in a rehs, "I don’t like this I know he’s fond of you, always has been When he was in the center he used to write you these letters It was quite sad Anyway, surely you et him to come home?"