AFTER THE FALL; HER SIDE OF THE STORY

INE'

years

llowed by a loud splash. And then there were more gigglin

ffee in my hand, as I watched Mia chase bubbles across the bac

gs again and her hair was tied in some two messy puffs she

l r

brilliant and loud. But she's somehow, s

as holding the bubble wand and spinning around like an idiot while she runs after the shiny little orb

d but covered in grass and s

childhood like hers."

idn't put it down. I like the way the sting

t's weird. This house is warm, calm and predictable...but still I'll check the locks twice before bed.

ld habits dying hard

ing!" Mia screec

or and leaned against the fra

ou cheating at bubble

cence. "She has tiny legs. I'm giv

dramatically. "I'm no

made her grinned at me with all her teeth before she ret

and felt that familiar tug

ld have be

t and even felt it. But every time I d

and thought I didn't see it. It was soft

o let him in. His smell compromised of the sun he was coming from the soa

," he said, as he r

do" I said as I

he con

had emails.

towel, even th

ile we watched Mia go into a fu

ppy," he

." I co

t, you know.

e. He kept sipping his coffee. This casual kind of intima

that," I

dn't even say more and that's because he never push

ke ages, a part of me

mails on my tablet. The emails ranged from invitations to exhibitions to a

io's couch with a broken heart and noth

d

tic, I am the woman whose work "feels like grief wrapped in velvet,". I laughed when I read that. I read it out loud

six," Antonio said, as he tapp

like a dad,

"I'll try to tone down the res

in, soaked

blue sparkly

dinner"

" She

first, bubb

at me and I did the same t

er now with his arms folded and

" he call

again" I sai

nded not to f

I love h

slowly.

now I love

ere is

I complained ag

ped the edge

aven't pushed because I wanted you to feel safe

d to fa

ere clear

ding something real with you or

my throat

retending," I

n't mine."

ither was it said with anger,

s not." I

d at me befor

re not m

head in c

, what are

n't know." I said hiding u

epped closer and l

aper, if not by blood. I want mornings and fights a

I closed my eyes because it sounds beautiful, kind an

him, I couldn't think

ently lif

ame way. But I need to know if I'm en

y heart

than a heart-love soaked in guilt.nI

om! I can't find my purple socks!" I got saved by

with a softer voice now.

at I will. As he walked away,

I still can't look love in

ketchpad and flip

ved before my

shape began to form, and it was a

ry sharp jaw and lips which its

d it be if no

, I still couldn't get h

aded upstairs to help Mia, as my heart began to thud

isn't as burie