by Mj Fields
“Nope we can walk,” she said. She wanted to run and scream. He was going to be with her once a week talking to her about feelings. He was going to her doctor appointment with her and he was having a precious little baby with her. All the things she knew he should do. She encouraged it, he was going to be with Sadi and Tessa was going to either fall apart or be here picking up sand sized pieces of her heart trying to put it back together. Breathe Tessa she told herself. He was doing the right thing, let him, be his friend, just breathe, she tripped and fell. Her tears fell immediately. Luke squatted down beside her.
“You okay Tessa,” Luke asked.
“No it hurts,” she said and curled into a ball, she put her face into her legs and tried to breathe as tears poured into her lap.
“Let me help you up,” Luke said.
“I can do it just give me a minute,” Tessa winced.
Luke watched her trying to be strong, and he wanted to just run away like she had asked him to the night before. But he had to be a man; she would hate him either way. He reached out and rubbed her back, and she stopped breathing.
“Sorry Tessa does that hurt?” he asked.
“Yep,” she said. Everything hurts. “So what else happened with her?” Tessa asked.
“She told me I needed to move out of here,” he answered quietly.
She started to shake, “and what did you say?”
“I told her I would work on it, but it may be two more months,” Luke said softly.
She was taking deep breaths, “So are you working on it?”
“I think I should,” Luke said softly.
“Oh,” she said and sounded defeated. Her breaths were more rapid and she held her breath and the tears fell harder.
“I know you don’t want help up but we should really get you back to clean up that leg.”
Tessa hadn’t even realized she was bleeding. The pain in her leg was nothing compared to the one deep in her chest. She sat up and lifted her shirt to wipe her eyes and looked down at her leg. She exhaled and shook her head. He put his hand out and she took it. He lifted her up.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“Can you walk,” he asked.
“I am going to have to figure it out,” she said and breathed deeply.
“I can’t let you limp all the way to the house Tessa,” he said.
“Well that one you’re going to have to figure out,” Tessa forced a small smile.
“Friends Tessa?” Luke asked searching intently into her eyes.
“Always,” Tessa swallowed hard and looked away.
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