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In his absence I felt a loss unlike anything I’d thought I would feel again

Not only had I lost the first man I had fallen in love with since Ben, but I’d also lost the only ment or reservation

It rip It made me want to hide it away from every man in the world It made me want to hate him for what he had done toin his room after Deacon storo, and he’d been quiet and distant ever since He didn’t want to talk superheroes, he didn’t want to talk about ladybugs or Darth Vader, he didn’t want to talk about anything, really

I wanted to hate myself

Because if it weren’t for both Deacon andlike he’d lost his best friend

I jerked when I felt so at the book in my hands

They’d come over for breakfast, but had only watchedI wouldn’t So I’d cuddled up with Keith on the couch after, and grabbed my book that sat on the coffee table in an atte other than sit in the uncoo that was

I’d forgotten they were there

"You haven’t turned the page the entire ti here, Charlie Are you ready to talk yet?"

I released er or Grey kneas that I’d yelled at Deacon at the LaRues’ Fourth of July party, and that he’d left not long after I had

They didn’t kno he’d come over to take care of Keith They didn’t know the beautiful e’d co after I didn’t kno to tell theure out how it had all cruer as Deacon, but had been positive that they were two separate people So much so, that it was still so difficult to let h all the evidence had been thrown in ripped my hand in hers; her eyes darted up behindto take Keith home with us so you can have today to yourself to do whatever you need to Sleep, run errands" She drifted off, then hesitantly said, "Go see Dea--"

"Don’t," I pled "Please don’t"

Irrational, betraying heart

She paused for a second, then dipped her head in a nod "Okay Call us when you’re ready for Keith to come back, or just come pick him up"

I stood with her, and wrapped Keith up in my arms as we all walked toward my front door I whispered my love for him, then let hier’s eyes

"Why won’t you tell us what happened?" he finally asked when he realized I wasn’t going to look at him