Too Late, Governor: My Freedom Is Mine

Julian Davenport stood by the window, his back to me, a perfect silhouette a

by day, his lover by night. For

readable, the way it always wa

over

in bed, pulling the sheet to my chest,

ha

"It ends now. Chloe and I are making it officia

lthy, connected, beautiful. I knew this was always

small bottle of pills. My birth control. He tosse

is voice laced with something cruel.

he door, his h

is lips. "Three years of practice. I can't exactly show up to my weddin

ked shut, leaving me alone in t

ills. A bitter routine. A c

familiar burn of tears, but I refused t

ked at my reflection. The same quiet face, the same disciplined expr

first time in years. I picked up the pills and dry-s

bt was

oundation found me. They saw potential, or maybe just a blank slate they could mold. They sponsored me,

rything. I owed

t I used t

. At a gala, a political rival drugged him. I got him out of there, got him to safety. He was disoriented, angry.

sed me, and I didn't stop him. I was infatuated, desperate for any piece of him I could have.

, the illusion shattered complet

tactical pants and shirt. I braided my hair

king over schedules. He was an old friend, the closest thing I had to family in this plac

ht?" he as

ation form from the rack, filled it out

ays," I said, my voic

back at me. He saw the finality

y did it,

ed to answe