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I pause, pull her in closer My gaze delves in to hers, and I hope she sees the brutal honesty deep within I hope she understandsthe atrocities laid on your doorstep You've shown strength and resilience in spades Every one of those women you counsel at The Faith Mission should hold you up on the highest pedestal as a role model But Macy baby your life isn't about just ed You've left survival far behind, and your life now is about thriving You're just failing to see that because all you see are the immediate obstacles in your path"

She sently "That's lovely, Cal But the obstacle currently into kill you if you don't stop pursuing hiive that up, and he knows it I' to end badly for you For me And I just can't live with myself if you're hurt"

"I'et--"

She cuts me off with pain-laced words "I'm not a complete woman"

"What?"

"I'ed in more ways than you can ever know"

"I'--"

"I can't have children," she blurts out, giving etic look "When Dr Coppens when he"

She stutters fuht words I want to clap hts herself, but then it's all laid out before htmare

"My parents had Dr Coppens sterilizevoice

"They what?" I whisper in horror, but I heard what she just said It's just so unbelievably unbelievable that I can't comprehend the heinous nature of what they did

"I can't have children Coppens did a tubal ligation," she says a little unsure of herself

"Can't that be reversed?" I ask, because it seems to me maybe I read that somewhere

She shakes her head "It's improbable I've had my doctor look into it, and apparently Coppens cauterized my fallopian tubes, which is very hard to reverse"

"But it still potentially could be done," I press

"Listen to me, Cal this is just another reason why you need to leave me far behind You're a man ants a family and children, and you deserve that"

"When?" I ask

Her brows dran in confusion "When what?"

"When did you have a doctor check?"

She hesitates cuts her gaze to the side

"Since you started seeing me?" I push at her

She nods, and I let out a breath of relief Joy and ecstasy fillchildren

With me

I take her by the shoulders again "We're getting sidetracked We can get another doctor to check you out, and hell another after that But if you can't get pregnant, we'll deal with it We can think about in vitro or adoption Plenty of ways to have kids nowadays"

Macy gives ing She stands on tiptoes, kissingmyyou loose"

"You don't mean that"

"You're my favorite person in the world," she whispers as she pulls away from me "And if the only way to keep you in this world is to let you go, that's what I'"

"No," I deny her, even as I realize I think she just said she lovesit

Macy rubs the back of her neck and sighs wearily "Listen give me a few days to think A few days to keep you safe And then, ain"

It's the best concession I know I'll get fro Once I walk out that door, I bet she's not going to open it back up

My phone starts ringing and I pull it out of h