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Yes, I knohat’s probably waiting for me out there- just more heartbreak Yes, I was also in full control of my faculties I’m all there upstairs the last time I checked The sensical voice in my head told me that dates all end up the sa, tears, and a heart that I have to glue back together, but the nonsensical voice told

Hoping for what?

I sigh deeply as I sink down between two boxes and rip a strip of tape so ancient off of one that it gives easily, peeling away like it’s made of paper and dust Oh wait I think that’s just because I took off part of the box because it’s so bloody old

I rifle through the contents of the box, which look to be old school assign, especially since there are sorade twelve I pull out the books we made about hoe liked to spend our winters (which is silly because this is NOLA and winter is basically the saether, which was construction paper and cut outs froazines, a few posters that I rade eleven physics My hand pauses in ers brush over the se envelope I pull it up and let out a gasp of thrilled delight when I realize what it contains For our grade twelve English project, we had toThis envelope contains, according to thestructure taped to the back, two short stories, one longer story, an editorial style piece, one personal piece, a social justice article, and five poems in different styles

How could I have forgotten about this?

Now that I’ it, I remember exactly what I wrote about I remember lines fro I channeled almost all my emotions It was a project that ere supposed to work on all year, and while everyone else probably just slapped theirs together the night before or the week before, I actually did carefully write all year I spent hoursup on expensive paper andsure each sheet was crisp and pristine

I sit down hard on the floor, easing offcurled up underneath of es still feel crisp as fresh linen and buttery sh them

An hour and a half later,at tears that are streaking down my cheeks, lost so far down the rabbit hole of reia that I can barely pull e noises

“Gahhhh!” I let out a shriek and ju Charlie horsed painfully and I go down hard, catching myself on a stack of boxes to breakinto a fist inthe phone and it’s still going off I bring it tojust now that I have a date with Daniel and he’s probably sitting outside ht now “Hello?” I pant “Daniel?”

Daniel’s deep voice is somewhat puzzled, and no small amount alarmed “Leandra? Are you okay? You sound like you’re in pain”

I’m touched by his concern, even as I start to panic The throbbing intoout hard at ht tospasm I- I’ll be down in ten minutes Is that okay?”

“Sure Take your time Do you want me to come up? Do you need help?”

“No, I’ away”

“Those things hurt for a while though, after they happen When I get one, my muscle is sore for days”

“I haven’t got one in ages” This is so unsexy “I probably forgot to drink enough water” Yup This whole conversation is a real bloody turn on Congrats on the foreplay, Leandra Congrats on actually re ready

I ignore the snarky voice in et off the floor as fast as I can