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“Sorry, boy,” I say as I drop a shaking hand on his head “I’ll buy you a new one I promise”

He licks my cheeks and saunters off without a care in the world Oh, what I would give to change places with hi

My bear gives up with a growl and slips back down deep, hunkering inside with all of the softness of broken glass

I punch the dirt and curse under my breath as I stare at the deep knuckle marks It wasn’t always like this

The yearning for

What changed?

I squeeze hter of three happily mated couples leave the house

All three of my brothers have found their , I am happy for them Thrilled It’s just hard to see everyone around you happily soaring up to the clouds with all of their drea true when you’re stuck in the ry, frustrated bear who is too stupid or too heartless to realize that you have nothing to do with the depressing situation

“Jacob!” Cameron shouts from behind me

“Fuck,” I whisper Why can’t they just leave me alone?

I hear his footsteps approaching when I don’t answer

“You okay, bro?”

I glance at hi the back of my eyes “Yeah Fine”

He exhales loudly “We’re heading out for ice cream, why don’t you come with us?”

I turn back around and stare at the knuckle prints in the dirt

“It would be good for you to get out”

I shake h a lot, but how can I explain to hiet his irl named Mary who spilled a full pint of beer all overinto our lives He doesn’t knohat it feels like to be surrounded by love and be the only one rejected The one loneso sucks