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Mateo’s chest ached as his heart beat against it The nausea he felt too often started to dissipate as Rhonda reached over and grabbed his hand

"I want the up for them I don’t want them to have to uproot their fuckin’ lives because of me Iwant to be who they need"

She squeezed his hand and he squeezed hers back, but then she did so of a , and this one from someone who may not know all his sins, but she knew he had them, and she kneho he loved, and she accepted him

"I can sit here and tell you all day that you deserve the it If you think you need to do so to deserve them, make it happen Do whatever you have to do But I have one more question for you It’s because of me that Tristan is the way he is"

Teo pulled back "Fuck that You--"

"--Are responsible I know that I was his mother I hate it, but I’ve accepted what I’ve done My question is, do you think I don’t deserve happiness because of my failures?"

He didn’t need her to tell him where she ith this

"Then you don’t Do whatever you have to do to iven a second chance to be what you want and to have what you deserve You just have to grab it"

The quiet of the room ended with the beep of Teo’s phone He pulled it from his pocket to see that Jay and Tristan were here

"Gracias Usted lish

Rhonda wiped a stray tear from her face "Just be happy And lanced at the door "Now you better go They’re waiting"