Page 74 (1/2)

Sweet Home Tillie Cole 12210K 2023-08-31

It nearly killed me

I joined him on the sofa and wrapped him in my arms while he cried with his head on my lap I cried with him I cried for the little boy who didn’t know love I cried for the little boy who’d lost his childhood, and I cried for the man who had so much to offer the world, but had been held back by the unyielding bonds of his abusive and athered Romeo’s face in my hands and forced him to look at me "Romeo--"

"I love you… I love you," he whispered over and over, eyes wide and frantic, the pads of his thu over the dampened apples of my cheeks

"W-what?" My heart leapt to my throat

Rome on top of him "I love you I love you beyond anythin’ I could’ve ever iine was possible"

I careened forwards,arhythm and confessed, "I love you, too, babe I love you so, so much"

His distressed eyes widened "Baby, you do? Even after--"

"I’ anywhere I ca to you hurting, and I knew that I had to be with you noto leave you"

"Butelse, but they won’t ever chaseyou We’re star-crossed, Roe" I winked jokingly

A tentative s his troubled face "I feel stripped bare right now… like soled heart held together by jagged scars"

I pulled apart his shirt, button by button, and kissed along the path of his heart He expelled a groan and I pressed ainst the hot, bronzed skin