STORY OF THE SOUL

We sat in a corner booth after her shift ended. I listened. For the first time in my life, I just listened. She told me everything. The party, the boy …

And I had locked her out in the rain. I looked up at Leo. Tears were streaming down his face. “She was trying to tell you, Dad,” Leo sobbed. “She was scared.” I didn’t …

8 months went by. It was a warm evening in July when the doorbell finally rang.

I saw someone spitting on my rules. I grabbed her backpack, found the half-empty bottle of vodka, and threw her out.

“You wanted to leave after Christmas?” I said, stepping past him to grab my coat from the hallway hook. My bags were already packed and sitting in the trunk of my …

“Just because,” he said, walking over to the couch. He looked me dead in the eye, kissed my forehead with practiced affection, and whispered, “You’re the only woman I’ll ever love.” The …