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The truth in his words slices ht open, and I have to stifle a breath to hold back a sob

“It’s just easier this way,” I say, et ot me here—”

“Oh, no, no, no Jesus, Rock They didn’t get you here You did Your talent did Haven’t you heard the song ‘Don’t Call Me Angel’?”

“Huh?” I sniffle and crinkle up ?”

“This song?” he asks rhetorically “Everything”

He moves around the couch toward the stereo on the other side of the roo it with his phone I wait—so finally starts to play

The intro beat is all it takes for my eyes to widen so far I’m not even sure if they’re on one

Harrison dances, bouncing his hips back and forth andback his head for a phantom hair toss When Miley Cyrus dives into her solo, Harrison points toeach word carefully about being the one to make the money and write the checks

I listen along as three badass wo sexualized and undervalued despite their trerained in me

I’ve spentoffered up on soin without a voice for herself I’ve created reat accolades—and yet I’m afraid to stand up for myself and make my own decisions about my life?

Harrison is right It doesn’t make a damn bit of sense

I anized it in inning

Heidi’s entrance ht, but as I watch Harrison dance around without regard for pretense or posturing, all in the na me an advocate for myself—I can safely say that not even remotely all has been lost

In fact, it ht just be that a whole hell of a lot of perspective has been gained

The very early ust 16th, 2:45 am

Raquel

Hakuna Matata, baby

My fingers are warm prunes, and I can barely containbrush of a dry, fluffy towel

The scents areat his jokes and staring at his smile for the last several hours, it’s not exactly a hardship

Tonight, it’s like I was able to press pause on my life

I don’t have my phone I don’t have e they want me to have

The New York rain more than washed it away