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I tried toas I could make it “I’m sorry, I was upset, but I would never hurt you”

“You’re a liar That was supposed to be ressive shake in her hand “Stay away from me I have copies of that picture and others If you come after me, I’ll call the police” She didn’t wait forelse She backed away froh the door fraot in and sped off

I backed against the wall next to the hole Ion the floor I droppedto hyperventilate It felt like I couldn’t get breath toto burn My eyes atering andHow had my past followed me? I’d taken every precaution to start a new life; to ensure I wouldn’t hurt anyone else that I loved How? My vision started to wane as I continued taking in the short shallow breaths I started to shake and knew that I’d be passing out any second

“Daddy?” The tiny voice snapped ainstin the hallith tears in his eyes “I’”

“I’ is okay”

Trey didn’t hesitate He walked towards ht of his body intothat had happened washed away and I was left with a simple reminder of why I ht and rubbed er person than I ever was

“It’s okay, daddy Don’t be sad,” he said

“Thank you, buddy,” I responded “I’ll be okay”

I said the words, but the senti I had into consoling my son, when I had no idea at all how to consoleTrey’s back, he fell asleep and I stood up fro him with me I carried him to his bedroouys and asked the away from my past, and now that this had happened, it was finally time to face it head on and fix it

19

Oliver

Working thein the world For some reason, in Dallas, criminals preferred the day ti around the petty thief or train gropers anymore When I worked the late shift, I was supposed to research any cases I had open, listen for any huge eht up on paperwork I’d s (and people) I could be doing

My phone rang in et amy shift, and pulled it out I noticed that it was Harrison, and beca me so late?

“Hello?” I answered

“Hey,” Harrison greeted, “I’ve got bad news” His voice was shaky and low; he sounded like he was panicking

“Okay?” I responded “What’s wrong?”

Harrison was always a bit of a wild card Unbeknownst to any of the other guys in the group, Harrison and I had a floss-thin thread tying us together One day, not long after Ethan conceptualized putting together a club, of sorts, for he, Lowe, Rogan, and I to bond together as single fathers, the captain of ht hile parents in co I could look after Harrison as a personal favor to him It seemed very odd to me, and despite the fact that everyone assumed I was your run-of-the-ent My boss wouldn’t delineate any additional information about Harrison to me, not even tell me where he was from Harrison had only personally told us that he was from theof his recent past and only got details about his childhood when really pressed, and even those details were vague He’d er in the picture, but never if it was a divorce, or separation, or one-night-stand gone wrong We knew very little about him