Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
But in a blink, that softness faded, and her back stiffened. She turned her attention back to Liv and grumbled, “Maybe if you girls had a life of your own, you wouldn’t be so obsessed with mine.”
Before Liv had a chance to respond, CeeCee pivoted on her heel and marched toward the copier room. She opened the door, then glanced back at us and snapped, “I hope you ladies have the day you deserve.”
“Right back at ya, Hun.”
Seconds later, the door shut behind her, and Liv huffed, “The nerve of some people.”
“Um-hmm.”
“I still can’t believe you were such good friends with her.”
“Yeah, some days, I find it hard to believe, too.”
I swallowed, hoping it would ease the lump forming in my throat, but it didn’t budge. Fearing I might lose grip of my emotions, I whispered, “I’ll be right back.”
Before Liv could stop me, I turned and weaved through the tables until I reached the back office. As soon as the door clicked shut, the dam broke. I pressed my hand over my mouth, but the first sob came through loud and sharp. And once it started, there was no stopping it.
I’d held the tears all weekend. I refused to let myself break down in front of the boys, so I held it all in. I’d planned to keep holding it in, but it was just too hard. CeeCee was the one I would talk to about this, and I was the one she would talk to. And now, we couldn’t stand to be in the same room with one another, much less share news. It hurt more than I could explain and keeping it all bottled up was getting harder by the second.
I had to let it out, so that’s exactly what I did.
I didn’t hold back. I let the tears fall. I cried for every memory that hit me at the worst times. For every story told on lazy afternoons and the mornings when I woke up, reaching for someone who wasn’t there.
I cried for the loss of my best friend, the woman who once knew me better than anyone. The woman who shared her life with me. Now, her kids live with her ex, and we rarely see them anymore.
I missed them.
My kids missed them. The whole thing was such a stupid mess.
My back hit the wall, and I slid down until I was sitting on the hard floor. Certain that Liv could hear me, I drew my knees up and buried my face in my hands. I let the grief have me for a moment, just a brief second, because I couldn’t keep pretending that I wasn’t hurting.
It had been two years since I had found that text message, and six months since the divorce. It had been long enough. I knew that. But there were times, like this, when it got to be too much. So, in the quiet of the office, surrounded by forgotten carts and old textbooks, I let myself fall apart.
I don’t know how long I sat there, crying my eyes out, but with each tear that fell, I felt a little lighter and the ache in my chest didn’t seem quite so crippling. I was just starting to feel like myself again when there was a tap at the door.
I sat upright and remained still, waiting to see if they knocked again. And sure enough, there was another tap. I wiped the tears from my cheeks and stood, quickly straightening my clothes. Liv had certainly gone back to class by now, so I was left wondering who was at the door. There was another tap, followed by a soft voice asking, “Ms. Wallace? Are you in there?”
Recognizing the sweet voice as one of my favorite students, I cleared my throat before answering, “Yes, sweetheart. Just give me one second.”
After one more swipe under my eyes and a deep breath, I eased the door open, and when I stepped out, I found Kayla standing there with her sparkling tennis shoes and pigtails. She was hugging her latest book against her chest like it was a prized treasure. I wasn’t surprised. She loved reading books of all kinds, especially fairy tales.
She studied me for a moment, then announced, “I finished the book.”
“What did you think of it?”
“It was the best,” she answered with a smile. “I read it in like three days.”
“Well, that’s great. I’m so glad you liked it.” I placed my hand on her shoulder, guiding her to the fairy tale section. “Now, we have to find you something that’s just as good.”
She watched as I scanned the various spines, hunting for the perfect book for her. My nose was still running from crying, and I sniffled. Kayla tilted her head up at me with concern in her eyes. “Are you okay, Ms. Wallace?”