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"Yes you! You know I'd have done anything to impress you"

He coversis just the way it was before he left There's no more distance between us There's no pain, just us The way it should have stayed

"I know," he says

"Why did you leave?" I blurt it out

He stiffens then reer starts tracing that faaze breaks from mine

"Do you remember what happened?"

I nod slowly "Of course I do?"

"All of it?" he asks sharply

"Of course I do"

I'd almost been raped Ben stopped it I reht We'd been in ain

Ben stares, so unknown behind his eyes

"Why did you and ht so much?" I ask to break the silence

Ben shrugs "I don't know"

I can see the lie Ben's an excellent liar so what is he holding back from me?

"You two never got along Soon as you beca heads constantly"

"Your dad's an ass," Ben says

"How can you say that! He treated you like his own son"

"Yes, he did," he says

"And this is how you repay him?"

"Where is he now Vic? Why were you alone at Mother's house working? Why is he not taking care of that?"

I fall silent Ben knows of le with alcoholism He kno much Meryl meant to him

"Exactly Why does it all fall on you? Isn't that the husband's job?" Ben's voice is sharp as he leaps to the attack

"You have no idea how hard it's been on hi the play boy life Different wo all over the world You barely made it back for her funeral!"

"I was there," he says through gritted teeth