I Have To Force A Smile Off

June Has Never Looked More Beautiful Than She Does Now, Unadorned And Honest, Vulnerable Yet Invincible.

For A Small Moment, I Fix My Eyes On His, Telling Him Silently Everything That I'll Never Say To Him Aloud.

I Want To Run. To Do What I Always Do, Have Always Done, For The Last Five Years Of My Life. Escape, Flee Into The Shadows. But This Time, I Stand My Ground. I'm Tired Of Running.

So, Tell Me,” He Whispers. “how Fast Did You Climb Those Fourteen Stories?” Thomas Makes A Disapproving Sound In His Throat, But I Break Into A Grin. Storm’s Past. Metias Loves Me Again. “six Minutes,” I Whisper Back To My Brother. “and Forty-four Seconds. How Do You Like That?” “that Must Be Some Sort Of Record. Not That, You Know, You’re Supposed To Do It.

My Heart Is Ripped Open, Shredded, Leaking Blood. I Can't Let Him Leave Like This. We've Been Through To Much To Turn Into Strangers.