LEFT AT MY LOWEST, LOVED AT MY BEST

ICA'

dge of our bed, hands clasped together, staring at the empty space beside me. Desmond had left early again, just l

re. I had tried to hold on, believing things would get better. I had reminded myself of his support

heart leaped in my chest as I hurried to answer it. May

doorway, her expr

"Grace? Wha

e and closing the door behind

. I led her to the couch, my hands trembling as I re

uldn't place. Pity? Anger? "Jessica, I didn't know how

hard. "Tel

ted before finally handing it to me. My fingers shook as I t

h h

ss's d

nd resting on hers. The look in his eyes.

ming out in short, shallow gasps

r grip firm. "It's rea

spinning, crashing down all at once. The man I had fought f

hoved the phone back into her

nged. He loosened his tie, glanced at me sitting on the couch, a

to fists. "Oh, I bet you did," I said,

fro

mering in my chest. "Say something

gh his hair, exhali

e word

as I laughed bitterly. "You

, and I saw it. The guilt. The regret. Bu

ou to find out this

reath. "But you mea

n't re

ms and promised forever. The man who had cheered me on, told me I would

cracked. "Why

emples. "It's not about that,

icated? That's al

. "She's......she's the boss's daughter. This...

ed. "So I was ho

dn't

etween us like an unbridgeable gap. And then

houlders, wiping my

frowne

now. Stronger. "If you want her, take her. B

ica, don't make this har

mean harder than throwing away five

le

breath. "I'll

. "You don't have

t staying in a house tha

I turned and walked

be because my heart had already let go. Maybe beca

edding photo sitting on the nightstand. Desmond and

mage of the woman I used to be.

cond thought, I pl

alked out with my suitcase. "Jes

at him one last tim

ut of the house.

time in a long t