- 16.
10:08
<
44
Life in the small town was slow and peaceful. I
settled into a comfortable routine with Alex. He
was the perfect housemate, bringing me books
to read and even finding me a puppy that
looked just like Grandma’s old dog. I sat on the
floor, cuddling the puppy, when the tears I’d
been holding back finally came. Alex stood
quietly until I was done, then knelt and ruffled
my hair. “Been wronged, Liv?” he asked gently.
The familiar words unearthed a flood of
memories. As a child, I’d been teased
mercilessly for being “fatherless.” I’d hide and
cry, and Alex would always find me, asking the same question. Gradually, the teasing stopped. I only learned why when I saw him cornering one of my tormentors in an alleyway, giving him a beating. I realized I’d been very attached to Alex before I left. Why had we drifted apart?
