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I tightened around hihio of h it hurt, I was happy I would’ve been happy with hi at my hair for hours

What had I been thinking, trying to stay away fro to fit myself into the box I’d created? The prison I’d created? He’d torn down everything that I’d crafted so expertly, like it was a house of cards In one night, he’d done that I’d exposed myself to him in ways that were so permanent, I may as well have tattooed his naave me And whatever else

By the ti plans To tear updelusions about us being per-term But I knew, he’d forcedto live a lie That it would cost me too much It had already cost me too much

Whenever Pete turned up again, I’d break it off In a gentle, respectful way The way he’d been lately, I doubted he’d even care

No, of course, he’d care Not because he loved etting what he wanted Deciding when he was done with it Men didn’t like being broken up with Even if they didn’t want you in the first place A wos she could do Being with aRight up until they tore your throat out

“There’s a bathroo ently

The gesture surprisedelse he’d done toHe ran his thumb over my bottom lip, slowly

I only stared back,to place where thisto put me off balance with this tenderness? It didn’t feel like it But I was beginning to think I couldn’t trust

And despite whatever this connection was, I knew I couldn’t trust him

Eventually, he stepped back, putting space between us I was both grateful and disappointed

Working on autopilot, Ithe sanctuary and relative privacy of the bathroom