We were sitting on the bed in my room now, Damien and I. The defeaning silence stretching on for much longer. I'd never seen him so disturbed and upset. He suddenly turned and pulled me into a hug. “I'm so sorry about earlier. Thank you for not going out with him.”
“Tell me what's wrong, Damien. Why are you leaving?” I reluctantly wrapped my hand around him. His heartbeat was erratic, and even though it made me panic, I yearned for him to hold me tighter.
He released me then, teardrops running down his cheek. Seeing him in such a state made all my anger towards him evaporate. I wiped the tears off with my thumb. “Stop crying.”
“My mother's sick.”
“I don't understand. She was supposed to get married to the firefighter guy who she fell in love with. I thought she stopped having these ill
