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Locke Harper Sloan 14010K 2023-08-31

By the ti heavily I have no doubt that she h I can’t help but feel nervous about the thought of reliving htmares daily, with her, part ofup on me now that she knohat a vile soul I have

"I el"

"And e’re done, I’ to remind you of this moment and the pro e

"One day soon, e’re able to take the majority of this and throw it away The day that you believe every word that I’ to feel the beauty of life, and the peace that you feel won’t even hold a candle to the love I’ ain She doesn’tmy eyes back to hers

"Don’t make me spank that doubt out of you," she teases

"Emersyn," I warn

Her eyes spark and her full lips tip up "Keep doubting et you in trouble soon"

She lets her hold on the box go and s forward to it"

I drop the box on the top ofto look at her so that she sees that I’ to ht Just the thought of feeling soht One that I knoill be undoubtedly easier as long as she’s right there withat me hopefully With a deep breath, I round the bed and sit She’s seenon She’s seen my stump She knohat I’ve been so careful to keep hidden because of the shaives me Even with all of that, she’s still here, still wanting to be here Knowing how I becae her mind at all

That doesn’t lessen my self-consciousness about ive ave you four years’ worth of seconds It’s ti boy and take it off," she fuh at the situation I should have known that, while I’s, she would still throw her sass She’s broken herself and still stands tall

Can it really be that easy? To look at s she thinks I’ for the bad--and just let go?