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This man—whoever he is—didn’t actually steal the house from me It was for sale It’s been for sale for years But I’ve worked so hard I’ve sacrificed everything for so many years Lived as bare bones as I could Rahts a week I haven’t seen a movie in a theater in a year Cut the cable Used the Wi-Fi at the library I put every extra penny I had intothis drea, my north star Without it, I just don’t knohat I’ll do It can’t happen like this

Is the universe just so completely fucked up that it would do this to me?

I blink back the tears in my eyes as I start to drive When my mom died, and Grandpa sold the house to take care ofthe house back hat got rief I became an accountant—a field that I don’t love but that makes decent money—just to buy this house There eeks I took on so ht with colu behind my eyes

I’ll be da to take this dream from me

The ride out to the house passes in a blur The route is so familiar to me that I honestly think that I could hts and all I just have to get there If I get there, it will be all right, I tell myself It will be fine The buyer will understand He’ll sell me the house, even if I have to sell him my soul This can be fixed

When the façade of the house comes into view, I have to stifle a sob Every time I see it there’s a flood ofIt’s my dream house Where so much should have happened, if only Mom hadn’t died This is my home My apartment is peppered with faardens My favorite picture of me andout over the river

It had been an a day The perfect Fourth of July with sparklers and fireflies The house had been restored enough by then that we could actually host a party Mom and I baked cherry pies and chased Grandpa out of the kitchen He played cards with so plates of ribs and e in the river set off the nificent fireworks display, and Mom and I watched from the bank of the river I can still remember her face lit up by the red and white bursts in the sky

It was only the next week that we found out she was sick A routine blood exam led to sonosis Little did we know, it was already too late to save her I’ll always reood day with her

I shakeof reverie and too many memories, and I pause to take in the front of the house one more time before I brace myself for this battle

Oh my God, what did he do?

The front of the house has a , original to the house Or rather, it had The railing is coone, and the wood steps and floor sit in a heap in the front yard I’ at the house in utter shock Who would remove such a beautiful feature?

I get out of the car, and I realize as the sound hitsremoved currently Just around the corner of the house, I can see ait andwith him? How fucked up in the head do you have to be to tear down so to tear down the whole house?

There’s a lot that I will do to keep that fro He’s never met Allison Hollis, and he doesn’t know that once I set et it done

I’ravel drive toward hi it “Hey, stop!”

He doesn’t react or even acknowledge that I’ve spoken As he lifts the sledgehaain, part of me notes the fact that he’s attractive Not just attractive, but ly hot The way his muscles h to sendneed on any other day