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For all the women just waiting to be rescued by a shirtless mountain man. Here, have three instead.
“You know that to love is both to swim and to drown. You know that to love is to be whole, partial, a joint, a fracture, a heart, a bone. It is to bleed and heal. It is to be in the world, honest. It is to place someone next to your beating heart, in the absolute darkness of your inner, and trust they will hold you close.” - Caleb Azumah Nelson
Smile. Pretend you like it. Pretend you love it. Bag the cheque.
Life is nothing without suffering.
I’m talking about the quiet kind of suffering, reserved for the empty space between existing and living.
Not pretty. Not sellable. Not inspirational. It’s more of a deafening ache that never abates.
By halfway through my shift, I’ve found my not-so-happy place. Numb is safe. My ass hurts from being slapped so hard, but I’ve learned to tune the throbbing out.
Run, Willow. No amount of money is worth this.
That night was the beginning of the end. I didn’t know it at the time, but my life would never be the same.
Sometimes, existing in empty spaces can be fatal. But sometimes… it’s the only way to survive.
“Scream, Willow.”
“I’m fine, my sweet girl. Go back to sleep. I’ve got you.”
“It’s the dark,” she whines. “I don’t like it.”
“That’s why we put the stars up, remember?”
“No matter where you are or what sky you’re looking up at, y...
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“Of course, baby. Even if Mummy isn’t there.”
“I don’t want the stars. I want you. Please don’t leave me on my own.”
“I promise. We’re going to go on a little trip when everything is ready. I need you to
be brave for me. Can you do that? Be a big, brave girl?”
“We can do whatever we want. No more rules, no more hiding.”
“I didn’t know if you could hear me over your brooding lumberjack routine.”
“I suppose splitting logs is cheaper than therapy. One session with you and the shrink would run away screaming.”
“I’ll pass on the beating for today. Thanks, though. You’re always so thoughtful.”
Smug asshole. He won’t be grinning when I break his short legs.
This is a place for lost things.
A family of choice, rather than blood.
Falling. Falling. Falling. This is it. My death.
My little girl. My angel. My one light at the end of this very long tunnel.
I won, darling wife. You’re nothing without me.
Everything hurts. Life hurts. Breathing hurts.
I’m drowning on dry land.
“That’s your goddamn job. Keep your eyes open. She’s not my kid or my problem.”
“She’s outside with my cousin, annoying the fuck out of him. Little thing has a hell of a smart mouth on her.”
Arianna’s entitled to a meltdown. I think I might join her at this rate.
“It’s seven o’clock in the morning. Can you please give it a rest? I’m not awake yet and really don’t need you on my ass.”
“Don’t tell anyone. They’ll think I’ve gone soft.”
She stares up at me with big, blue eyes that sucker punch me right in the damn chest. I don’t usually like children—too loud and demanding—but there’s something about this tiny speck of sass and fire that I find endearing. “I missed you, giant.” I blink, taken aback. “Me?” A smile blooms across her pink lips. “Where have you been?” “Hiding, obviously.” “You’re too big and fat to hide from me!”
I still feel like a dick for how I treated her.
I’m not good with people,
Her secrets are practically written across her face, and it killed me to know that I couldn’t wrangle t...
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Her voice is a melodic tinkle that licks against my hardened skin. She’s a technicolour painting of purple and black bruises, but the swelling on her face has settled down enough to reveal her slightly crooked nose, naturally plump lips and effortless smile. Fuck me. She’s gorgeous.
She really can’t stand me. I’ve seriously fucked this up.
“I want to stay out here with the pretty flowers and the giant.”
The swirling depths of her brown and green irises threaten to breach every last shield I’ve constructed over the years.
I don’t know this woman, but I still want to claim her as my own. What is wrong with me?
If she thinks it’s okay to be in pain, we’re gonna have a serious problem.
If he weren’t my cousin, his body would be thrown off the mountain and shattered to pieces already. No one would find him out here.
My life would be so much more peaceful.
“Who did this to you?”
“Breathe for me, babe. I’ve got you.”
