“I guess I just…” Emotion sticks in the back of my throat, and I feel silly for it. But it sticks there anyway, and I worry my lip between my teeth, averting my eyes as Cal comes to a stop one more time with his back to me. Then I breathe in deep and say on the exhale, “I just miss you.” I watch him stiffen to stone. The planks of his back ripple as he flexes a hand at his side, splaying his fingers before making a fist. He doesn’t look at me. Just stares at the floor and says, “I’m starting to realize…you can’t miss something you never had.”
F you
