1. APARTMENT 204
Four Months Earlier…
I hated change. Totally detested it usually, but not today. Even though change for me meant I was hauling all my meager belongings, currently packed floor to ceiling in my Toyota Corolla, to yet another residence in less than two weeks. I refused to complain, though. Truth was, I would have moved for days if it meant the same end result…my first apartment.
I put the last box in the front seat and took a deep breath as I turned to look at the institutional building that had been my first real home away from home. Apart from some nostalgia, I didn’t have any fond memories of the tiny two-person room and community bathroom. It represented someone I was leaving behind; someone I’d never be again.
I sat in my car, ready to leave the parking lot for the last time, wondering how I was even the same person who was dropped here just one year ago. I remembered the day I told my mom I wanted to go to Winsor, a small private college located twenty miles outside of Asheville, North Carolina.
She looked at the brochure and said, “Do you realize it’s nine hours away from here?” I didn’t tell her at the time that the distance was part of the appeal, but I think she knew. I had never been close to my family. They too represented a life I wanted to bury.
I drove across campus and smiled. Winsor was exceptionally beautiful. Apart from the addition of a new medical school and veterinarian school, the area around the campus remained relatively undeveloped. Its beauty was a double-edge sword in some respects, because the raw land was the very reason I had been stuck in archaic dorms to begin with. Residential units around the university were scarce and very expensive, so unless you wanted to commute from Asheville each day, dorms and campus apartments were our only options.
I shook my head when I thought of how naïve I had been at freshman orientation when I requested a room in the campus apartments. The counselor just laughed, put my name in the lottery and said, “Good luck with that.” Needless to say, I didn’t get a room, and since my scholarship required on-campus housing, I was doomed to spend four years with no freedom or privacy, a fate I had accepted…until now.
The call came in yesterday informing me of an opening in University Apartments. The lady on the other line didn’t even finish her sentence before I yelled, “I want it!”
The apartment was home to three girls who had managed to get it their freshmen year. Most likely, they had influential parents who made a few calls. I pushed aside a feeling of annoyance as I thought about how much easier the process would be for the rest of us if people didn’t cheat the system. It worked in my favor, though, because one of them dropped all her classes this year and left the campus, leaving the university to find a replacement tenant four days before classes started.
I couldn’t imagine why the girl would leave so suddenly. Going home after living on my own for a year would be unthinkable. Ok, well almost on my own. I did spend the last year sharing a room with a manic sorority girl who talked non-stop about boys and clothes, but thankfully, she was gone most nights
I shook my head, putting the memory far behind me. The sky was a perfect blue today, full of sunshine and promise for this new year. Coming back to school my sophomore year felt empowering. This was my domain. I knew the school, the professors, even which bathrooms to avoid in the library. The fear and anxiety of my freshmen year had passed and all that remained was familiarity and assurance.
Parking my car, I felt nervous and excited all at the same time. “Here it goes.”
The apartment was on the second floor, three doors down from the stairs and on the left…204. I couldn’t help but smile. The feeling of freedom that stayed ever elusive in my world, finally felt tangible.
The letter from the housing department felt crisp and sturdy in my hand. How could one piece of paper mean so much? I was in room C. Room A belonged to Kaitlyn Summers and room B belonged to Naomi Bennett who was currently on exchange to Portugal. Grabbing my key and laptop bag, I took the stairs two at a time, ever so eager to see my new home.
The apartments were located in close proximity to the campus lake and right next to fraternity row, a street lined with beautiful mansions, immaculate landscaping, and large oak trees that had survived a hundred years of development.
My pulse quickened a little as I lightly knocked. No answer. I felt my lungs deflate. I wasn’t expecting a welcome party or anything, but I did feel a little disappointed no one was home. The apartment was fairly clean, a few dishes in the sink and in the living room, but nothing unbearable. The furnishings weren’t bad; you could tell the University tried to bring in a contemporary feel. I ran my hand along the large brown and tan micro suede sectional sofa as I walked through the room and set my bag down on the cast iron end table that flanked the couch.
It would have felt much like a waiting room if not for the most outrageous loveseat I’d ever seen, sticking out like an eyesore. It was bright red and in the shape of lips, with the seat being the bottom lip and the back of it, the top lip. The fuzzy upholstery probably came complete with a lint brush. My laughter echoed in the room as I wondered which roommate purchased that thing.
I sat down on the lips, rubbing my hands over the fabric, and realized how much it clashed with my own style—simple and relatively plain. I had an unhealthy affection for solid colors and was rarely seen in anything other than jeans and a t-shirt or running attire.
I glanced over to the kitchen. It was pretty standard—white appliances and Formica countertops. No dining table, but at least we had a bar.
The apartment wasn’t large, so it was pretty easy to find the room marked C. The other two bedrooms were shut, but that was probably a good thing. Snooping in someone’s room was not the best way to make a good first impression.
I unlocked my door and could swear I stepped right back into the dorm. The walls were cinderblock and painted white. A small double bed was pushed against the far wall, and a petite dresser and desk sat to my left. The entrance to the bathroom was on the right. I smiled. It was quant…shower, sink, and toilet, but it was all mine. I inched to the window to see if my luck continued, and it did. In front of me were two large trees parted just enough to see the sun glistening off the campus lake. I pulled up the blinds to let the sun fill my room and basked in my good fortune. I was happier and healthier than I had been in years.
Grabbing my cell phone, I plopped on my bed, and dialed my best friend. I had known Cara since middle school, and she was one of the few people in the world I trusted. All through high school we had planned to go to the University of Georgia together. The campus was located only a few hours from our hometown. However, part of me always knew I wanted to get out of Georgia and try something new. When my Winsor scholarship came through, the decision was pretty easy to make. Distance didn’t seem to affect our closeness, though…I guess kindred spirits are designed that way.
“Hello?”
“Guess where I am?” I asked, my voice giving away the answer.
“Um, could it be your new apartment? Or have you come to your senses, decided we had way too much fun this summer and have transferred to UGA?”
“I wish. Tell the administration to give me an alumni scholarship, and I’m there.” That wasn’t entirely true, but I had learned with people that sometimes less is more, and I rarely let anyone know exactly what I was thinking…even Cara.
“Anyway, Yes, I am in my new room, complete with my very own bathroom. I also got a room overlooking the lake. Someone seriously needs to pinch me. Oh, you would not believe the loveseat in the living room. I’m going to text you a picture as soon as we get off the phone.”
“Sounds lovely. So, have you met any hot neighbors who are just dying to help you move all your stuff in…without shirts on of course?” she teased.
“You are officially boy crazy. No, in fact I haven’t met anyone yet, not even my new roommate.”
“Are you nervous? I mean, are you feeling anything we should talk about?”
I wasn’t surprised Cara asked me that question. I had had some struggles peak last year, and let the pressure of maintaining my grades get the best of me. In a moment of full disclosure, I opted to tell Cara about my issues, but had since wondered if sharing had been a mistake.
“Cara, I’m fine. I haven’t even thought about it. You don’t need to worry.” I was lying, but didn’t want to start a long conversation about decisions that weren’t even a factor today. Today was all about the future…not the past.
“Ok, but I do worry, and I want you to know I’m here for you if it becomes a temptation again. You got it?” She was stern, but I knew it was because she cared. I felt very lucky to have a friend like her.
“I got it. I promise. Ok, I have to go. I left all my things in the car, and it’s going to get dark soon. I’ll call you later.” I pressed END on my cell phone and headed back out the door.
Seven trips later, I was pulling the last box out of my car, the heaviest one, of course. My legs were burning and screaming at me about having a second floor apartment. It seemed crazy that something like stairs could wind me so much when I ran at least three miles a day. I could almost hear Cara’s voice in my head, “Running is not strength training, and skinny doesn’t mean strong. You need to put some meat on your bones.” I couldn’t help it, though. I loved to run. It was my retreat. A place where I could clear my head and everything seemed to make sense. Often, I was my own worst enemy, analyzing and re-analyzing everything around me, but when I ran, I felt invincible.
Then the unthinkable happened as I daydreamed. I missed the first step sending me sprawling forward as the box slammed into the staircase. In my attempt to recover myself, my exposed shin slid across the concrete step making me wince in pain. I somehow got to my feet and watched as the box bounced down the stairs, hitting the ground with a thud.
“Hey there, need some help?” I heard footsteps approach me from behind. Cara must have seen the future because I turned, and two attractive men approached me in running shorts and very bare, muscular chests.
“I’m ok,” I assured them, turning my head away so they wouldn’t see me blushing. I was so awkward around guys. It was annoying.
The one with light brown hair and matching eyes grabbed the box easily off the ground while the other, the more attractive one of the two, eyed me appreciatively. He was the first one to notice I was now bleeding. “I think you may need to put something on that,” he noted walking up to me. “I’m Aaron. This here is Danny. You must be new here.” He said the words as if he knew every woman that lived in the building, but then again, he was looking at me as if he already knew me too…in the biblical sense.
Danny laughed as he adjusted the box in his arms. “Don’t mind my roommate; he has no manners. What apartment are you in?”
His words allowed me break the eye hold Aaron had on me as I turned to look up the stairs. “204. You really don’t have to. I can get it.”
“Nonsense,” he said as he navigated up the stairs. I followed behind him, trying not to fidget, as I felt Aaron’s eyes glaring into my backside. My shorts weren’t that short, but I still wondered how grotesque my legs looked from behind. With each step, I felt my insecurity get more and more extreme. I hated when anyone looked at my body.
I opened the door for them and Danny set down the box on top of the coffee table. He seemed to look around the apartment as if he was searching for someone. “Is your roommate home?” he asked nonchalantly.
“No, I actually haven’t met her yet. Do you know her?” I replied as I walked them back out to the hall.
Aaron snorted. “He wishes.”
Danny seemed to get embarrassed and hit his friend.
“Well, thanks for helping me.”
Danny seemed to hesitate and then shyly offered, “We’re in apartment 315. Y’all are welcome to come by tonight. We’re having some friends over.”
Aaron leaned his hand against the frame, looking from the top of my head down the length of my body. I didn’t know how it was possible to feel so violated without even a touch, but I did. “You should definitely come...um?” Then he raised his eyebrows as a way to ask my name.
I hugged myself, wishing I had something to cover my tank top. “Avery. I’ll think about it,” I said, hoping they would leave soon. I wasn’t going anywhere near that apartment.
He winked at me one more time before I saw Danny push him along while he rolled his eyes. “See you around, Avery,” Danny called as he waved.
I shut the door with a sigh, and then scolded myself again. I couldn’t be a recluse forever. New apartment…new me!
I took the box to my room and collapsed in the desk chair. What a mess. I had been in such a rush to move out of the dorm that my clothes were crammed into two suitcases. I had boxes full of junk that I had no idea what to do with, and my schoolbooks were somewhere underneath it all.
I sat there for a moment trying to conger up any excuse to procrastinate unpacking until I heard the front door unlock and laughter fill the apartment. The laugh was contagious, one that made a person want to laugh even when he or she had no idea what was funny. I peeked out of my room and saw the source. She was talking on the phone and laying on the hideous lip love seat with her head hanging over the edge. Her hair was long and dark with alternating streaks of blue and purple at the ends. She had it pulled to the side with a sparkly black hair comb and wore tight red pants with black converses and a black and white striped shirt. There are only a handful of people in the world who could pull off that look, but she was one of them and stunning in the process.
The girl was a classic beauty…the kind artists of old would use as their muse to create stunning portraits. Her skin was like porcelain ivory, not pale, just delicate. Her eyes were set in such a way that her stare remained intense, a complete contrast to the animated style in which she moved and spoke.
I don’t know why, but I immediately liked her, maybe because she was the total opposite of me. I waited until she got off the phone and then knocked on the door a little so I wouldn’t startle her.
“Hi, I’m Avery, your new roommate. Are you Kaitlyn?” She looked at me with a mix of horror and interest as she stood up from the lips. I couldn’t help but notice her body, a habit I’d been trying to break for years. It was perfect. She was petite, but still looked very much like a woman, having curves only where it mattered.
“I am certainly not Kaitlyn…that is a name my mother gave me. I go by Issy, which is short of Isadora, my middle name. It’s a much better description of me as I was named after my grandma who was totally cool. We were wondering when you’d get here.”
“We? I thought Naomi was in Portugal.”
“Oh, she is. I’m talking about my cousin, Jake. He crashes here a lot, especially since I’ve been alone these last few weeks. He’s a little protective of me to put it mildly, but he’s fun, so I let him believe he’s got the upper hand. He has a key to the apartment, so don’t be freaked out if he just walks in.” She said all this flippantly, as if it were the most normal thing that a guy I didn’t know had a key to my apartment.
“So,” she asked, crossing her arms. “What’s your story? Are you wild and crazy, totally annoying, or a kleptomaniac?”
I laughed and joined her in the living room. “No, I’m afraid I’m boring, somewhat clean, very private, and not at all annoying.”
“Fantastic! Then you and I will get along fine. I was worried when the University said they were giving away the room. The three of us have known each other since high school, and well, you’ve seen some of the crazies around here.”
I had to hold in a laugh, thinking of how most people who met Issy for the first time would probably use that same descriptor.
“Having hot roommates is kind of an essential part of the guy magnet thing,” she explained looking me up and down as if to check my credentials. “You’ll do just fine. By the way, we’re heading to Caesars tonight to catch the Wild Cats play. They totally rock…you wanna come?”
“Um, thanks,” I answered, considering it for a moment. I had been to Caesars one time last year when I first met my old roommate. She was hooked up in a matter of minutes and left me to make conversation with complete strangers until I finally dragged her home. Remembering what a colossal disappointment that night was, made it pretty easy to decline. “You know what? May I get a rain check? I have a ton to do tonight.”
“Suit yourself, but if you change your mind, you know where to find us.”
As I watched Issy frolic and sing around the apartment as if in her own Disney movie, I almost changed my mind out of sheer curiosity, but I hadn’t gotten in my run today and was definitely feeling it. Aaron’s full examination of my body had agitated me.
I envied Issy’s lightheartedness; she was so dynamic and free, whereas I felt like I was constantly contained in a box. Ironically, I had spent most of my life running in different directions just trying to escape, but realized last year I was my own jailer. I had put these expectations and standards in my life that I just had to achieve, making perfection my unending pursuit.
I looked in the mirror as I pulled my golden hair back. “What is wrong with you?” I scolded myself. “This is a great day, and you are a strong, self-sufficient woman.”
With my perspective back on track, I put my headset on and headed out the door. At least for the next thirty minutes or so, I would feel free.
My run was amazing. I wasn’t sure if it was from the adrenalin of moving or my own frustration with my shyness. Either way, I felt great. This was a new start, a chance to have it all. Tomorrow I would come out of my shell and take time to get to know Issy, even if it meant small talk with large groups of people.
With new determination, I put on my favorite tank and pajama shorts and started unpacking my mess. Music…I needed music. On-demand radio is the greatest invention of our time. Tonight, I was in the mood to dance. Nothing like a beat to keep spirits up and get lots of work done. My dancing skills may be less than stellar, but hey, I was the only one there, and I was going to enjoy it.
My room was finally finished after what felt like hours. The closet was just big enough for my scarce wardrobe, and each one of my enormous engineering books fit nicely on the bookshelf over my desk. The two blank walls were now covered in my favorite photographic art pieces, each one selected from a local artist. The one above my bed was a large black-and-white photo of a pier in the ocean. The perspective was from underneath the pier, looking up, while the ocean water receded around it. I knew I had to have this picture the minute I saw it, not just because the lighting was breathtaking, but there was something about that pier, fighting against the powerful ocean forces, that spoke to me.
The second picture was also a black-and-white. This one was a high, swinging bridge completely engulfed in dense fog. The bridge appeared to disappear into the fog and reminded me so much of the unknown and how my path was not determined yet.
Hugging myself, I looked at my final product. One word—inspirational. I turned up my phone and started brushing my teeth, fully enjoying every beat of the song. Next thing I knew, I was in full rock star mode, using my toothbrush as a microphone and my bed as a stage. It was only after the song ended, and I heard the applause die down in my head that I opened my eyes and saw him standing there, casually leaning against the door frame with his arms folded…and a totally amused smile on his face.
The scream I let out even startled me as I jumped off the bed and slammed my door shut, allowing him only a second to jump out of the way. Oh my gosh, that did not just happen! I could feel my heart racing as I imagined how ridiculous I must have looked. Maybe he would be the type to blow off embarrassing situations and make you feel like nothing happened. I slowly regained composure and cracked open my door. He was still standing there chuckling…nope, he wasn’t that type at all.
My cheeks flushed a crimson red as I stammered, “You must be Jake…um, sorry I slammed the door on you like that…you startled me.” I was fumbling over my words, sure this guy must think I was not only a nutcase, but an idiot as well.
“And you must be Avery, although Issy didn’t mention you were a performer.” He glanced at me, giving me an opportunity to respond. I didn’t take it. “Where is she, by the way?”
I had never felt more grateful for a change of subject than I did in that moment.
“She left hours ago. Said she was heading to Caesars to watch a band play.”
“Caesars…ugh…I hate that place. Total meat market.” He walked past me and started looking around my room, stopping at the bridge picture. “Why didn’t you go?” he asked, still not taking his eyes off the picture.
“With that glowing review? Go figure.” I felt exposed and vulnerable, so naturally I resorted to sarcastic wit…a talent I had learned from my father. I watched him as he continued to examine the photo. He was tall; definitely over six feet, and I immediately noticed the resemblance to Issy. They both had the same intense eyes—iridescent lime with brown specks. His hair was dark as well, almost black, but Jake didn’t seem to have the same need to add multiple colors to it.
“Besides, I wanted to get settled in,” I continued.
“Yeah, I can see that,” he said as he looked around my room and then back to the photo. “This print is amazing. Where did you get it?”
“They had an art fair downtown last spring. I picked it up there. I have the photographer’s card if you want it.”
“Sure, I’d like that.” His smile immediately brought butterflies to my stomach. It was one of those smiles so full of confidence and charisma, that it seemed to touch every part of my being. His presence was powerful, leaving me feeling terribly insecure. I didn’t have much experience with boys and even less with ones that looked like he did. To make matters worse, he had an intoxicating smell that fully matched his self-assured demeanor. I didn’t know what to do with my hands, and felt myself fidgeting as I went over to my desk and handed him the card.
“I can tell her you came by?” I offered, hoping to end the awkwardness I was feeling.
“No need, I’ll probably see her before you do anyway.”
He finally walked of out my room and then glanced back at me, full of swagger and charm. “Nice to meet you, Avery.”
“You too, Jake,” I replied as I watched him leave the apartment, confused by how empty it now felt without him in it.
I had a hard time concentrating the rest of the night as thoughts of Jake consumed my mind, but I finally drifted off to sleep right before midnight.
Some time later, I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. The room was completely dark except for light peeking under my bedroom door. What time was it? Just as I looked at the clock, which read 2:30 a.m., I heard another loud bang from the living room and realized Issy must be home. I turned on my lamp and opened the door, my eyes taking a second to adjust to the bright light. Issy had her arm wrapped around Jake’s neck and was singing what I was sure were lyrics from the band they watched tonight. It took her only a second to notice me.
“Roomie! We missed you tonight. Didn’t we Jake?” She was attempting to walk over to my room but stumbled over the boots she had just kicked off. Jake was luckily strong enough to keep her vertical, but she was fighting his hands off and making it pretty difficult for him to hold on. I quickly walked over to her and put her other arm around my neck to help.
“Aren’t you sweet? Jake, she’s sweet, isn’t she?” I just smiled apologetically at him and continued to help walk her to her bedroom. His eyes were vacant, fully absent from anything going on around him.
“Did you have fun tonight?” I asked, hoping to keep me out of the subject.
“Yes. It was amazing. The lead singer totally hit on me. He is so cute. He pulled me on stage and I got to sing with the band. I was supposed to meet him after the show, but Jake here totally got in the way…like he always does…and here I am. Did I tell you how much I don’t like you?” she asked as she glared at Jake.
He appeared to snap back to reality. “Only about twenty times on the way home. Now, lets get you to bed or you won’t like anyone in the morning.”
We laid her down and while Jake was pulling the covers up, I went to the sink and got her a glass of water and some aspirin. Jake watched as I set them on her nightstand and left the room. I heard her curse at him a few more times and then she must have passed out. He quietly shut her door and fell into the sofa.
“Is she going to be ok?” I asked, concerned at how inebriated she was.
“She’ll be fine. We ran into her ex at the bar, and it all seemed to go downhill from there.” Jake ran his hands through his thick, dark hair and started rubbing his temples.
“You look tired. I’ll let you get some sleep,” I offered as I started to head back to my room. I’ve never been one to linger when I felt uncomfortable.
“Don’t go…stay and talk to me. I’m too wired to sleep right now anyway.” He shot me a charming smile that could only be described as irresistible, and for the first time since I woke up, I wondered what I looked like. I ran my fingers through my hair to try and settle the waves and slipped into the kitchen to snatch a mint.
“Would you like something to drink?” I asked as I grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge.
“Sure, thanks.”
I handed the water to Jake and sat down on the opposite side of the couch. He said he wanted to talk, but I wasn’t sure what to say, so I just sat quietly, knowing that sometimes just being still is the best way to invoke conversation.
“I love Issy to death, but I really hate when she gets like this,” he finally said.
“Does she drink that much very often?”
“No, not really. I mean, she’s a drinker, don’t get me wrong, but it’s usually for fun. Tonight felt a little more forced.” He stretched out his arms, settled on the couch, and shook his head. “Ben really did a number on her. She dated the guy two years in high school and then he came here while she did her senior year. They seemed like the perfect long-distance couple until I ran into him at the Retro House and he was definitely not acting like he was in any sort of relationship. It seriously took all the willpower I had not to hurt the guy.”
“Ohhh,” I said, fully understanding why it would upset her so much.
“Yeah, when I told her, she was livid. She broke three of her mom’s favorite vases before I could calm her down,” he recalled, laughing. “Ironically, I think she was madder at the fact she didn’t date anyone her senior year than she was that he cheated. But that’s Issy,” he continued affectionately. “She’s a wild one and there’s just not much she can’t handle.” Jake suddenly shifted and turned his attention to me. “How about you? Any ex-boyfriends lurking around that we need to avoid?”
A shy grin took over my features as I shook my head. “Nope, no current or ex-boyfriends. I really haven’t had much luck dating.” I caught myself before I rambled on further and turned my attention the lines in my palms, uncomfortable looking at Jake right in the eyes. He was incredibly handsome and seemed to get more so each time I looked at him.
“Yeah, men are jerks. Trust me, I am one.”
I looked back up at him through my eyelashes. He sat relaxed with his feet on the coffee table and his arms folded in front of his chest. He appeared to be comfortable with me, like we were old friends, but his presence made me nervous and excited all at the same time. I was acutely aware of him and had to keep reminding myself not to watch him shamelessly.
“It was nice of you to take care of Issy like that,” I said, trying to fill the silence.
“That’s what I do. I’m a perpetual caretaker.” He closed his eyes and rested his head on the back of the couch. I turned and looked at him with a puzzled stare. I had a feeling there was a lot more to that comment, but didn’t want to pry.
The silence lingered, and I wondered if he had fallen asleep. I pushed off from the couch, ready to make my silent exit when I heard him say, “It started with my mom, the caretaking, that is.” His eyes were still closed. “I’ve always been the man of the house, but when I was fourteen, she got really sick and I was the only one around to take care of her. She was able to work for about a year, but then had to go on disability. Luckily, at that point, I had just turned fifteen, so I had my permit and could take her to the doctor and to the store when I needed to.”
He paused for a second and looked at me. I nodded to show I was listening, and he visibly relaxed and went on, “About a year later, my teachers were starting to suspect something was off because of the amount of school I was missing. They were constantly badgering me about my mom not showing up to any of the teacher conferences and asked why she was never available by phone. I deflected as long as I could, but finally, one of the teachers called the state and Child Protective Services showed up at my door. At that point, my mom was having a hard time even standing on her own, and she really needed more care than I could give her. We were living off her disability, which barely covered her meds, so things were pretty rough. They called my Aunt Diana, Issy’s mom, and within a week we moved in with them. Things got better at that point, and Issy and I have been best friends ever since …” His voice trailed off at the end, but he didn’t move.
I had no idea why Jake would tell me all this when he’d known me for all of twenty minutes, but I felt honored that he would. I also saw him differently. This was a guy who was handsome and caring…a true anomaly.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, not knowing what else to say. “Thank you for trusting me with your story.” He didn’t say anything else, and I realized he had fallen asleep. I grabbed a blanket from the closet, draped it over him, and headed to my room. My body wouldn’t let me leave without getting one more glance. His head lay relaxed on the back of the couch and his chest rose and fell in peaceful rhythm. My stomach started to flutter, sending waves of excitement through my whole body. I had heard about crushes from Cara, but never experienced one myself. However, as I watched him sleep, for far longer than was natural, I knew I was in trouble.
“Dear Lord, I know you will place people in her path, people who may love her or hurt her. I pray those people in some way bring her to know you either for the first time or as a rekindling of the relationship you already share…”