Lily Gold

Everyone you love will hurt you, in some way. Most of them, I hope, will do it by accident. Some of them will do it on purpose. Don’t let them win by letting it harden you. Stay trusting. And hopeful. Fall in love again, and again, and again. It’ll be okay. I promise

“I’m not a baby.” I try to wriggle out of his grip.

He just laughs and kisses the top of my head, unlocking his front door and bundling me inside.

But I’m still so desperate for people to like me. At any sign of conflict, I just become completely subservient. It’s gross.

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met,”

I kiss her again, and this time, she kisses me back with abandon, fisting a hand in the front of my shirt and meeting my lips stroke for stroke.

But this is the first time I’ve made her this happy. It feels good. Intoxicatingly good. I kiss her shoulder and start sifting through her curls.

We love you,” he says, pulling back to look me in the eyes. “I love you. We’re not going anywhere without you.”

We love you,” he says, pulling back to look me in the eyes. “I love you. We’re not going anywhere without you.”

“Baby. None of us want to leave you. I can’t even imagine a life without you.”

. “I love you,” I say. It’s the first time I’ve said those words in years. “All of you. I love you.”

“We love you too, Bethie.”