Julia
I heard the front door slam shut after my parents left and the gentle hum of their car's engine as they pulled out of the driveway.
I exhaled a slow, shaky breath, turning to face Ryan, who had sat with his elbows on his knees and his head in the palms of both arms.
I approached him cautiously, my steps slow as though my feet were weighed down by lead. When I reached his side, I knelt by his side, the soft carpet beneath me cushioning my knees.
Slowly I reached for his shoulder, and as my fingers rested against it, his muscle tensed underneath my touch, but he made no move to look at me, and that tore at the seams of my heart.
“Ryan,” I murmured, my voice low and coated with the guilt that continued to eat at my insides.
“I'm sorry, I should never have kept this from you.” I s
