Scott gave me completely melted the moment he laid eyes on Caylen.

Scott burst out of the house and swept her up and into her arms before we could make it up the steps. Grandparents who have been coddling her since the moment Mrs. Well not them -her dad and her grandparents. I can’t just hide in here like a big scaredy cat. I glance at my phone and notice how much time has passed. I’ve been in this bathroom for 10 minutes, and I feel like I’m drowning. I’ve been trying to convince myself that I can make it through today. The bathroom is quite large, but I swear it feels like the walls are closing in around me. Unfortunately, I feel like I’m being smothered. I look fine-great, if I do say so myself. If I can just look happy and content, I might actually start to be happy and content. It’s practiced, close to perfect, and completely artificial.

I splash cold water on my face, and sigh at the girl looking back me. I look the same, I sound the same, but standing here, I feel like someone else. “This is for Caylen,” I tell myself again as I scrutinize my reflection in the mirror, of the Scott’s bathroom. “I can do this.” I tell myself for the millionth time, exhaling a cleansing breath. I’m at the beginning of a match that I haven’t trained for or expected. Now I feel like I’ve been transported back through time, and it’s all a game again. I thought I’d grown, that he couldn’t make me feel like this anymore. I’m confused, I’m angry, and a sense of guilt is creeping over me. For two years, I imagined what this would be like. H ow the fuck did I end up here? It’s the same question I’ve asked myself a thousand times. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to an authorized retailer and purchase your own copy. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Almost Broken by Portia Moore