Sarah took a deep breath as she watched the sun go down over a park near her brother’s home. “I should probably go home now,” Sarah said before yawning. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Fb3wJBlB8
“I’ll call a taxi for you,” David said placing the phone to his ear. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cALmAwCte
“Thank you both,” Sarah said as she smiled at David and Rose. She grabbed her coat, got in the taxi and headed home. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMePUcwqzjc
****293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCL5bhSA46
Sarah could hear jazz music as she neared her apartment door. The music seemed to sound softer as she opened up the door. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4GxzaZtvQ
“Hey Honey,” Chris said. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdiHHCLhjn
“Hey,” Sarah responded quickly. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqvxVcL0QE
“Why are you being so short with me?” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8feMhZbh8
“Sorry and don’t be concerned I’m okay.” Sarah shrugged as she sat in one of the recliners in the living room. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYrM6kGqjC
“I can tell you’re lying.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohLX65RSuA
“How?”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAo0cFocIO
“You’re being short with me and you look exhausted. I don’t think it’s because of the baby.” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKZYgw5yms
Sarah’s eyes began to fill up with tears as she said, “Promise you won’t be upset?” Sarah then glanced at her husband. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCn2AXogq7a
“I can’t promise anything, but I’ll try.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCVXksg0yJ
“On my way to the grocery store, I was attacked.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtz5TPd5Dp
“Attacked?”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu139b0rLg
“Yeah. A man started making small talk with me and he said some inappropriate things to me. Then he followed me onto the train and he sat next to me before I could tell him to leave. Then he started saying all of this nonsense and grabbed my wrists. David got on the train at the next stop. David rescued me.” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq64ZNqWPho
Sarah started getting dizzy so she closed her eyes. “I just don’t understand...why?” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv6wHWDOct
Sarah opened her eyes to see Chris standing in front of her and he said, “Sweetie...I’m going to help your brother to catch the guy who attacked you on the train and the guy who now doesn’t make you feel safe in your own home.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFIBjTOpSI
Sarah gently smiled at her husband and said, “I don’t know what I would do without you.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWGJK0ZPyy
“It’s the same for me too,” Chris replied. He then stood up looked at Sarah and said, “So what would you like to do in the near future?”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hFzygc0rn
“See my sister.” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDOvkNX32j
“I mean besides that. I know she’ll be here in a few days.” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ885HdcRFtj
“Well...it’s a place you’ve been to before?”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSkH9Ed2N6
“What?” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2tXJ54gse
“The ocean,” Sarah said with eyes in wonder. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lGE57vx8o
“You’ve never gone?”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq10qjr97Io
“No, I grew up going to the lake.” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxH7m62xh0k
“Tell me about it.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMc2xob6Xu
“Are you sure?”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqRDCB2Vfg
“Yes,” Chris said sitting beside Sarah in the other recliner. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8JlLxZqra
****293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqO8tOT15Q
My mom and dad would take us to the lake and our condo every summer. The last time we went I had just turned 18 and I was bored and upset. All of my friends had gone on a beach trip before we all went to college or just started our lives after high school. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAMchNIgeI
So a few days into the trip I was sitting out on the dock and stared out over the lake and watched the pine trees sway in the breeze. I could hear my mom calling my name, but I didn’t answer. A few minutes later my mom sat next to me on the dock and said, “Sarah what’s wrong?” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhW1GrAV0Qb
“I’m fine mom.” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMY6dZgulN
“No, you’re not. I know you too well.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Y2ufDDlWe
“I just want to be with my friends.” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumPi7fJ019
“I understand but make the best time you have here. Moments like this go by fast.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe2d19s1AR
“Thanks, mom.” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgX60KhIYv
“You’re welcome. Also, I'm glad you’re here because I have to tell you something.” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OjXiENupK
“What?”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgm3OviPF9
“Your dad and I are getting a divorce?”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHABy3urC6a
“Why?”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0I56usUdP
“I don’t want to get into the details, but we don’t love each other anymore. But in reality, he doesn’t love me anymore. Don’t be upset with your dad, it’s a complicated situation. I just want you to know this. If you ever get married, make sure that the man you marry supports and lifts you up whenever he can.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwq2N6HjLy
“Alright, mom. If you need to talk more I’m here for you.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCODIarkulV
“Thanks, honey.” Sarah’s mother smiled. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabUXR2er4Z
After the summer had ended my mom, dad, David, Holly and I were driving home. Even though I missed my friends I was glad I got to spend time with my family. Anyway, we were over the county line and so close to home. Then all I remember next was waking up in a hospital room with minor injuries. That's when I learned my mother had died. It’s like she knew she wouldn’t be on earth much longer. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4xtjRksTm
****293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlagk0fdOib
“Chris. That’s why I want to go to the ocean. To maybe somehow imagine the trip I didn’t get to go on before college and remember my mom again. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACXyKg4S12
Also, I was so frustrated when my dad got remarried not long after, but that's a story for another time.” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8uZfqD1l6
“Sarah I can try to get you to the beach whenever I can. I’m just working on what I’m going to do about work.” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVCW5euAs6
“What do you mean?” Sarah asked pulling a blanket from the back of the recliner onto her lap. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNVc1rPaYF
“Well, I’m still behind with work. It’s just so frustrating. It’s just a mess.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOI0TEj6F77
“Do you want to take a break?”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhO85mUuvk
“I don’t really think I should leave my clients like that. I want to focus on them and give them the help they need.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRAJaoZ2AS
“But you look exhausted...not as much as me though,” Sarah said with a laugh. “You look worried too. How about this? I know we just went on vacation, but maybe you should take a sabbatical. Your colleagues can take over for you.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW56FLCoY7H
“Maybe?” Chris shrugged. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CfgNC3sYQ
“Why don’t you go over to the office and talk to everyone?”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dYaClMfQA
“What about you Sarah? Are you taking a break?”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfA4jHWFuW
“I would love to, but my readers have been on my back about me writing more chapters.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qmiYzMbQ4
“Did you tell them what happened?” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfS3PCld9J
“No, not really. I just let them know something very personal has happened and I’ll be updating my book when I can.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Kt7XjFagK
“If you feel comfortable, then maybe down the road you can tell more of your story. It could help someone.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFbSuEtOGf
“I’ll think about it.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTY3PqMftT
Sarah and Chris spent the evening relaxing on the recliners. They watched Christmas movies even though it was February. On some occasions, they would even watch a few in the summer. They watched a few versions of A Christmas Carol back to back. From a black and white silent film to some modern interpretations. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhthtrERsnH
“It’s getting late,” Sarah said, glancing at the clock. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2n9qqLO7q
“What time is it?” Chris said half asleep.293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmu9JlZCvk
“One-thirty in the morning.” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm62xQ9JAjZ
“We’ve been sitting here for that long?” Chris said as he took their empty mugs of hot chocolate and placed them in the kitchen sink. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUfsatplWE
“Apparently so,” Sarah said standing up and giving her body a stretch. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRD3GhPN4B
“Do you want me to run you a bath?”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWodnUtLG0
“No, no, it’s okay. I’m just going to head to bed. I want to make sure I get enough sleep.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKzU2QB0wd
“Me too.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XVgZyXaTH
“Are you going into work tomorrow?”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjpcmwSJbo
“Yeah, I think so. Probably for a few hours.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1msYoB1hrZ
“Okay then. I love you.” Sarah said with a smile as she walked into the bedroom. 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH19y8qZUG
“I love you too.” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVFdvOC67Y
“Don’t forget to shut the light off in the living room before you go to bed.” 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pNJBHrHzJ
“I won’t honey. Goodnight.”293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaduh5EyuP
Sarah slipped on her cozy pajamas as she tucked herself into bed. She smiled to herself and thought it was the first extended civil conversation she and her husband had in a long time. She hoped it would continue.293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJAKSqoKWt
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