“Abel, you are proposing…” The words tumble out of my mouth in disbelief, more of a statement than a question. He nods, and then, to my utter shock, he gets down on one knee. I feel the world around us blur and slow down, my pulse pounding in my ears.“Mildred Turina, will you marry me?” His voice w
MillieI woke up early, check.I rehearsed prior, check.I shopped for a good outfit, check.Then why the hell am I shaking like some lonely leaf on a tree in the middle of the desert?I have been to a lot of interviews and I have always been confident in each and every one of them, I don’t know why
AbelThere is always something about people falling in love with each other over and over again that doesn’t make sense to me. Like how can someone just love one person without getting bored? I do know love makes people happy, and that’s why I kind of always advise my friends to chase it if I see th
“But you could invite me over, I am just one person.” I teased hoping she would change her mind, but she shook her head and I knew it was time to abort that mission.The attraction I was having for her was starting to turn physical and I didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing. I knew I still wa
“Are you okay?” I asked.“Yea, it’s just that…uh...” Then she moved whatever she was holding to the camera lens and that was the moment I felt all the life leave my face.“What is that?” I knew what it was, I wasn’t so dumb, but I just wanted her to clear it for me.“It seems like the unprotected se
AbelA year agoThe music blasting in the speakers feels sensational in a funny way. Whoever said music is like a drug didn’t lie. I might feel a little too old to go to the dance floor, but I never pass a chance to enjoy the music. That is always the main reason I come to the club on the weekends b
“Did you though?” Anthony asks and I feel like that was a direct attack. “Yea.” I don’t want to explain anything to him or show him a reaction. We are having a good time and he is a little too drunk. He kind of doesn’t have filters when he is drunk. I turn my attention to Toby and I can tell he ha
“Hi,” I say. “This is kind of a girl’s drink.” She says with a smile so beautiful and I am just enchanted by that beautiful red lipstick on her puffy lips. There is just something about red lipstick that drives men crazy, and I am a man. “Says who?” I ask and she shrugs her shoulders and turns h
“Abel, you are proposing…” The words tumble out of my mouth in disbelief, more of a statement than a question. He nods, and then, to my utter shock, he gets down on one knee. I feel the world around us blur and slow down, my pulse pounding in my ears.“Mildred Turina, will you marry me?” His voice w
She scoffs playfully, giving me that familiar look that says she’s still got it all under control. “I know how to take care of children, honey. We will be fine. You two go have fun.”Relief washes over me. Even though we’re leaving them in the best possible hands, the part of me that has grown attac
We’re heading to Abel’s lake house for a weekend getaway—just the two of us. He said he got the place a few years ago but rarely gets to use it. He has only taken the twins there a few times because the only time he gets enough time to spend with them without many distractions from work is during th
Epilogue"Come here,” I call her over, and she reluctantly pulls her fingers off her brother’s chubby cheeks, then walks back to where I am. I crouch down to be at her level, trying to mask the amusement I feel at her little pout.“If you keep harassing your brother, I will have him stay with me at
“Did I?”“You bitch!” I burst out laughing. He has definitely been holding that back.“I was busy dealing with a concussion to see anything, oh, and my mom has way more money than you, you know, and her money combined with the money my dad left me, which I just found out was a lot by the way, then A
“Mom, I…”“I should have taken you with me when he died, but I thought you were already a grown woman and you wouldn’t need me anymore, and I will never forgive myself for that because if I did, then you wouldn’t have ended up with an abusive man. I could have protected you from repeating the cycle.
"Abel, he is good for you," she repeats, this time more firmly. There’s a strange sadness in her eyes, as if she’s remembering all the times she wished someone had said those words to her. I nod, acknowledging her observation, but I don’t want to delve into a discussion about Abel with her. "I feel
"Are you ready to go home?" Abel asks, and I nod eagerly. The sterile scent of antiseptic clings to the air, making me desperate to leave this hospital room and everything it represents. My heart pounds with a need to escape—to feel the cool air outside, untainted by the trauma that haunts these wal
“Oh…”“I love you, and I would want you in my life and the twins too, but you need to accept that fact about me. I don’t even know if I can be a mother to your children or a stepmother. I just don’t know if I have it in me, even though I love them, and I love you,” I say, and I’m nervously waiting f