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"Jules!" I feel Emerson’s hand yank onasp, but it doesn’t stop The ache inover ain Emerson shakes ain, cupping my face in his hands "You can do it Coot you," Emerson promises "Please, Jules Just breathe with ed breath deep into s, and then another I stare into Eone, replaced with the fierce tenderness I knoell He does loveto be OK

Slowly, the panic ebbs away

Easp of air after another I cru I aainst hi returns to norh the dah, maybe I can pretend the last ten minutes never happened We can wipe theain

Then Emerson slowly detaches my arms from around his torso and firmly pushes me away from him

I look up at his beautiful face Water runs in rivulets down fro down his jaw My dark, dael My forever

"It’s over"

His eyes close off again, a barrier crashing down between us

"No!" I scream "I don’t believe you!"

"I’ic, an ache that has no words He gets to his feet I grab for him, but he steps back "I’ll take you honore it, scra anywhere with you Not until you tellthis to us"

"You want a reason?" Eer "Hell, try a hundred! We wouldn’tfool could see that We were crazy to think we could even try!"

"You’re wrong" I shake ood does that do?" Emerson yells back "Look at our parents, at youryour dad destroyed her Love drags you down, if it lasts at all All the good turns to shit in the end, and then there’s nothing left but misery!"