Promise Me Not

by Meagan Brandy

“I want you to have to kiss me because you can’t stand the thought of not,” he rasps. “I want it to be desperate and urgent and necessary.” He swallows, whispering, “But I want it to be mine and only mine.”

“I’m dead serious. I can’t compete with a ghost, so I won’t,” I promise. “He can keep your heart for all eternity. Just let me hold you for all of mine.”

I was just as mad as I was sad, and I hated that. Guilt was—no, guilt is like a second skin in my life, and I don’t want to wear it anymore. I want to break free and just…be.