Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 62543 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 313(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62543 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 313(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“It’s not for me,” I say with my eyes closed as the little one kicks my hip again. My feet slip across the porch floor as I shift on the swing and try to get more comfortable.
John lets the screen door shut and crosses the porch to sit with me. The swing dips when he sits and wraps his arm around me to pull me closer to him.
“They're here for you,” John whispers into my ear and splays his hand over my belly. I love it when he does that. When his eyes light up with hope. We didn’t plan this little one, but I’m so grateful and happy. And so is John.
I kiss him, feeling a rush of warmth flow through me. I would never have guessed our lives would turn out like this. It’s nearly picture perfect.
At the sound of the door opening again, I pull away, feeling the heat of a blush on my cheeks. John just smiles as he stands and helps me to my feet. The wooden swing gently hits the back of my legs as I get my balance and say goodbye to a group of my coworkers.
“We’re heading out,” Karen says as she waves her hand, the other occupied by a paper plate covered with aluminum foil. A young woman who must be in her early forties, or maybe late thirties walks out with the group. She’s in her gardening clothes and in an instant, I know she’s one of our new neighbors. They live down the road and closer to John’s shop. The closest neighbors we have.
“I really appreciate the invitation,” she says as she stops in front of us. I’ve only had a few conversations with her, but she’s a sweet woman, alone out here for the most part.
“Of course,” I answer her. “I’m so happy you came.” I can’t help the smile on my face or the small yawn that comes after it as John makes small talk with her. I watch him as he talks. It’s night and day from where he was just two short years ago. He’s not perfect, but neither am I. Together though, we’ve gotten through everything. One thing that the memory can always hold on to, is love. There’s never a doubt in either of us that the other person doesn’t truly love them. That’s rare and special and I can’t get over how powerful it is.
“How did you two meet?” our new neighbor asks as she grips her drink in both of her hands. She looks between the two of us with a smile on her face. “You’re such a good-looking couple,” she says. I wish the smile that wants to come to the surface were genuine, but it’s not.
She’s not the first to ask.
And a part of me deep down is terrified that they’ll all find out the truth. Another part wants to scream it out loud and tell everyone what we’ve gone through. Together.
I keep the smile on my face as my husband wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me closer to him. A lie slips so easily from his lips. It’s a struggle every time, to listen to words that are false, meant to hide the truth.
No one wants to hear our story. The real story. When they ask how we met, no one would expect the harsh reality of our pasts. No one would be able to understand. They would judge us. And they’d never forget it.
I sure as fuck won’t.
It’s dark and twisted.
But that doesn’t make it any less of what it is.
A love story. Our love story.
* * *
And I’m so grateful we got a happily ever after. Stories like ours aren’t meant to end like this. It’s only because we stayed together. Only because our love was stronger than our pain.
Something to Remember
Prequel to Forget Me Not
Chapter 1
I used to wonder what I’d done to deserve this. Why he hates me so much.
My stomach rumbles, and the aching pain that used to make me ball up because it was centered in my stomach now shoots through my body. I wince from the pain, but I don’t scream. The stinging in my eyes isn’t from tears. I refuse to shed them.
I’ve made my choice.
This room, in particular, is one I used to be terrified of. Cinder block walls that are damp and cold, and nothing but a blanket to cover me when I sleep on the hard cement floor. The fluorescent lights are horribly bright, and they remind me of the school’s gym lights, but somehow the darkness, when he shuts them off makes the lights unbearable when they’re on.
There’s nowhere to hide when the lights are on.
I lick my dry lips as the pain settles and stare at the steel door until I feel like I can breathe easy again. I’m no longer afraid of the room. The punishment holding, as my father calls it. It will be my salvation. My escape from what fate has offered me.