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He was the only relationship I knew. The only
relationship I wanted. My ideal dream for a future.
I looked up at the ceiling, forcing back the tears that threatened to fall. “No,” I choked.
“But you want to?”
“More than anything.”
“And it hurts you…” she observed.
It wasn’t a question, but I still answered, “More than the life I wanted to run away from.”
She bit her lip. I could see she was at war with herself. At that moment, she didn’t look like a professional at all. I almost wanted to laugh when she closed her eyes and did something that looked like a breathing exercise. When she opened her eyes, she just nodded at me.
I watched her in confusion as she stood up and forced a smile. “Your doctor will check your wrists today, and I’ll give my approval for you to be discharged. But I want you to promise me something,” she said, touching my shoulder.
I nodded.
“If you ever want to talk, you can always come here to see me.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
She smiled sadly before saying, “Be happy.”
When she closed the door, a small smile appeared on my face. I felt like a burden was lifted off my chest. Maybe it was the relief of being understood and not judged. Whatever it was, Tina Bailey had just won my gratitude. And I knew I would never see her again, since she had a way of revealing my secrets.
CHAPTER 10
ZEKE
When the therapy session started, I walked out of the hospital. Driving to the place I found her in her own blood was never something I would consider, so instead, I went to the closest store I could find to get Maya a few things she might need.
It felt nostalgic to choose things for her. Maya was never materialistic. If it wasn’t me, she would’ve never bought or wanted things for herself. When she had any money, she was trying to buy things to make me happy. The little locket with our photos in it was still on my neck. I touched it over my shirt and sighed.
“Zeke!” Maya grinned at me when I entered the house.
I hugged her. “Hey, baby girl.”
She looked excited as she pulled me to the living room.
“Sit down and close your eyes,” she ordered.
I chuckle at her enthusiasm. “Why?”
“Zeke, please!”
“Okay, okay,” I said and sat on the couch, closing my eyes like she wanted me to.
I felt her get on my lap. It wasn’t unusual for us. She loved to sit on my lap whenever we were in the same place, so I smiled, waiting for her to stop moving so I could wrap my arms around her like I always did.
My whole body tensed when I felt her straddling my thighs. My smile froze on my face as her petite body wiggled on my lap to get comfortable. This was unusual. The way my body reacted to her. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat.
What the fuck was happening?
Calm down, Zeke. You’re just a twenty-two-year old guy who had a female on his lap. Your eyes are closed so your stupid brain can’t see it’s your niece, I said to myself, trying to make sense of the situation. Your fourteen-year-old niece, I added.
When Maya leaned down toward me, our chests brushed each other. I gritted my teeth.
