Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“I’m not really, no,” I tell Waverly. “I just ... I can’t be here anymore, Waverly. I’m struggling, and that struggle is only going to get worse. I’m hurting, really bad, and I need to be free of that. There is only one way I can do that. I’m moving away.”
Her eyes widen and she looks confused as she stares at me, slowly shaking her head. “You’re moving? Where? Why? I know you’re hurting, honey, but we’re your family.”
“And I love you all, I truly do, but I need to be somewhere other than here. Seeing him ...”
“We don’t even know the full story. There could be any explanation as to why he has a wife he didn’t want to be around, there are thousands of them. Aren’t you at least going to wait and see what that is?”
“He lied to me. He lied to all of us. He has a family. A family that has obviously been looking for him for a very long time. I’m not going to be the reason he doesn’t consider going back to them. I’m sorry, but I’ve made up my mind. I’m not going far, we can visit all the time, but it’s finally time for me to start my life the way I deserve. This was just a push in the right direction.”
She hesitates, but I’m certain she can see in my eyes that there is no changing my mind.
“When are you going?” she asks, her voice soft and defeated.
“Tomorrow, but ... I need to ask a huge favor.”
“Anything, honey. Anything at all.”
“I have no money. I was on the internet last night, and I found a place. It’s small, but it’s so nice. I am going to give them a call today. If it works out, I am going to take it, move in and go from there. I just need something to cover me until I can get a job.”
Waverly nods. “Whatever you need, we’ll give it to you.”
I swallow and force a small smile. “I appreciate you, I hope you know just how much. I won’t be far away, we can visit all the time and have girls’ nights. I have to do this, Waverly.”
“I know you do, that’s what kills me. I get it. You have been through so much, you deserve to have your life exactly the way you want it, and you most certainly deserve to be able to choose for yourself what that is. Do me a favor, though. Talk to Bohdi before you leave. I feel like there is so much more to the story than any of us could imagine.”
“Maybe,” I say softly. “Either way, his mess is for him to figure out. I can’t be part of it, it just hurts too much.”
“I respect that. Let me know how you go with your new place, and we can go from there.”
I nod, and she smiles, standing and leaving the room.
I exhale and stare at the cup of tea in my hand, untouched.
Can I do this?
Can I go and start again on my own?
Can I leave him and never look back?
I don’t know, but what I do know for certain is, it’s time for me to get myself together.
It’s time for my life to be mine once more.
2
THEN – BOHDI
17 YEARS OLD
“Yo, Bohdi, that girl hasn’t taken her eyes off you, man. You should go and get her number.”
I glance at the girl my friend Sean is talking about. She’s new around here and has been down at the beach for the last few days, watching us surf. She’s pretty, really fucking pretty, with blue eyes, blond hair and golden skin. She’s only young, maybe the same age as we are, maybe a touch younger.
“I got enough fuckin’ things to worry about, without adding pussy to the mix,” I say, looking away from her and shoving Sean’s shoulder.
“Can’t hurt to have a bit of fun.”
“Are we goin’ to hit the waves or talk about chicks?”
“Fuck the chicks, let’s surf.”
Our other good friend, Carson, comes up behind us, board tucked under his arm, jogging toward the water.
“Always gotta make an entrance,” Sean mutters, picking up his board and following.
I glance at the girl again, and this time she gives me a small smile. I return it, pick up my board, and hit the waves.
I’ve been surfing since I was ten and my parents moved us to this little seaside town. They got a shack right on the beach, where the waves can be heard day and night, where the smell of salt and sand fills the house. It’s everything and more.
If only they had stayed together and we remained a family, that is.
Instead, my father disappeared with a local barmaid and my mother started drinking to mask the pain. Now, she spends her nights working and her days drinking and sleeping. She’s a wreck, and it doesn’t seem to matter what I do, nothing helps. I picked up a job after quitting school, and that pays the rent, but it’s barely enough. She drinks her wage away, so I spend more time than not going to bed hungry.