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)
Her cries as she finds another orgasm is music to my ears.
I follow along right behind her, growling as I release into her beautiful body.
When we’re done, I lean down pressing my forehead against hers.
“I’m going to be okay, right?” she whispers.
“Baby, I’ll never let you be anythin’ but.”
She wraps her arms around me.
And finally, I’m home.
25
NOW – MERLEIGH
I stare at the note and bundle of money, so much of it that I don’t know what to do except stare with horror. The note is from Lennon, who was meant to come by this morning and see me. It has been three days since the incident, and nobody is any wiser. The café ran as usual, my boss telling me I’m a clean freak because I used so many chemicals, but the place has never looked better.
That’s the only backlash.
Lennon quit, without explaining, and I promised my boss I’d talk to her. I told her she has been going through a hard time and just needs support. So, I invited Lennon over but instead woke up this morning to a letter on my front porch and an envelope full of cash. Hundreds bundled into big piles, there has to be thousands and thousands of dollars here. So much money. Money I’ve never seen in my short existence.
I read the note again, with tears blurring my vision.
Merleigh,
Firstly, I want to explain why I couldn’t come and say this to your face. It’s because I didn’t want to see how much it would hurt you. You’ve done so much for me, I couldn’t bare to bring you any more pain.
I have to leave.
Mostly, because I can’t be here anymore, but also because this is the first time in my life I’ve been able to go somewhere and not be afraid. I owe that to you. You saved my life, Merleigh. I don’t think you’ll ever fully understand what you’ve done for me.
I have lived under his shadow for so long. Most of my life. I was just a teen when we got together. The things he has done to me, no person should endure. I’ve been running and hiding and I’ve forgotten what it’s like to live. You gave me that back.
Don’t you ever feel like you should have made another choice.
The choice you made was exactly the right one.
You’re probably wondering why there is money involved.
I have a lot of it.
I’ve had it for so long, sitting in a safe. I’ve never known what I wanted to use it for, after all, I couldn’t go anywhere. Then, I saw you. I know you’ve lived some kind of hell. I don’t know what, but I can see it in your eyes. I see it because the same kind of broken looks back at me every day in the mirror.
You deserve freedom, the kind of freedom you’ve given me.
I don’t need all this money, hell, I don’t even want it.
Do something great with it. Make yourself shine. And every time you do, think of me.
You deserve it.
Promise me you’ll not let what happened drown you, Merleigh. Promise me, that no matter what, you’ll always hold your head high because what you did... saved my life.
You set me free.
Thank you.
Forever,
Lennon x
I press the letter to my chest and cry again. Bohdi walks outside, shirtless, hair a mess from sleep. He takes one look at me and his eyes narrow. He walks over and carefully takes the note from my hands and reads it. His eyes widen and he glances at the large envelope full of cash on the table beside me.
“Lennon left this?”
“Yeah,” I say, my voice shaky. “I understand why, but...why would she leave that kind of money?”
Bohdi shrugs, still looking a little shocked. “Sometimes, when you’ve been trapped for so long, you feel like nothin’ in the world could free you, even having that kind of cash. She has a chance to start again and she wants to do it her way.”
“But I don’t want her money,” I say, a little frustrated. “I don’t want it. I don’t even know where it came from.”
Bohdi steps forward, placing his hands on my shoulders. “She gave you something that she felt means somethin’. It might not be how you’d do it, but it’s how she has done it. She is grateful, Merleigh. You gave her freedom and that was all she had to give you in return. Accept it. Because to her, it meant the world.”
Goddammit.
He’s right.
Maybe it’s not how I’d do something, but to Lennon, it was all she could offer me and that offer was given with love, appreciation, and respect.
It wouldn’t be right for me to throw it aside.
She’s gone, I can’t give it back.
I can’t even say goodbye.
“I hope she’s going to be okay,” I say softly.
“She’s strong, she has been through so fuckin’ much. This is her chance to be free of that. You, out of everyone, should know how good that feels. You gave her freedom back. Might not have been in the way anyone would have wanted, but you did it. It’ll take time, baby, but eventually you’ll feel good about it.”