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I want to call her I want to shake her I want to pull her to me and hold her until these fears in her rave, his ghost still threatens us I can barely take the thought, and I pull the cork out withpirate?

Setting the phone on the end table, I pour until the tu the pain tonight

Leaning back on the sofa, ainst the leather I haven’t checked in with anybody I haven’t answered the calls from Patrick I’m sure Elaine told hi it

Another long pull, and the tumbler is half empty Behind me, I hear the noise ofCaht, but the voice is my partner’s

“Patrick suspected you drove back” Stuart walks into the living roo you been in?”

Lifting the tumbler, I finish my drink “Five, ten minutes”

His eyes lass to my face “That bad?”

“Shittier than bad” Leaning forward, I take the vodka and start pouring again

“Give me some of that” He leans forward and catches the bottle before I’ve topped off oes to the kitchen, and I drink while he fishes out another glass “Did you talk to her?”

“She co ex”

“The abuser?” Stuart’s back, taking the seat across fro the bottle closer to him on the coffee table

“One and the same”

“She knows better than that”

We’re both quiet He’s nursing his drink, but I lean back and polish rab it, he’s picked the bottle up and is pouringto piss me off

“Why don’t you come into the office tos”