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“Joshua, that’s enough.” My mother said. “None of this is anyone’s fault but your father’s.”

I ignored her. My sense of betrayal was too great to ignore. With a heavy heart, I marched up the stairs until I was beside him.

“I’ll never forgive you for this.”

I shoved my shoulder into his and stormed into my bedroom, leaving behind the wreckage of my shattered family. As I disappeared into the dark confines of my room, the weight of my grief and anger consumed me. Nothing would be the same again.

??

43

“I won’t forget the good times.”

Good Times, All Time Low

Sawyer

As we stepped through the doors of the prom venue, we discovered a grand hall bathed in an ethereal glow, with twinkling lights overhead that created a spellbinding aura around us. We had an otherworldly experience, as every inch of the room was adorned with features of the galaxy. Every step was like walking among the stars.

Amidst the whirlwind of excitement, I caught sight of a familiar face across the room. Stella stood with her arm interlinked with Sebastian’s. I excused myself from Josh’s side and approached the couple with a wide smile. Stella’s eyes lit up as she noticed me approaching.

“I can’t believe we’re both here.” She said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

“Me neither.” I said and looked at Sebastian. “Never thought I’d see you in a suit.”

He smoothed his hands down the charcoal tweed suit.

“I can make anything work.”

We fell into simple conversation as Joshua approached us with a twinkle in his eyes. He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and placed his lips on my ear.

“You owe me a dance.”

As the soft melody filled the air, I found myself enveloped in the warmth of his embrace. Our bodies swayed to the rhythm of Paramore’s - The Only Exception. It felt as if we were dancing on air, lost in the moment of each other’s love. I placed my head on his shoulder.

As I glanced around the room, my eyes fell upon a figure standing a few feet away - Asher. He watched us dance with a tinge of sadness in his expression. I felt a pang of guilt tug at my heartstrings now that I knew how he felt about me. Unable to ignore the ache in my chest, I pulled away from Joshua.

“I need some fresh air.” I said, not waiting for a response.

The gentle breeze offered a warm respite from the liveliness of prom night. I leaned against the porch railing and sighed as the weight of the evening festivities temporarily lifted from my shoulders.

Approaching footsteps disturbed my moment of solitude. I turned to come face-to-face with Asher, his expression fraught with emotion.

“Hey,” he said, his voice filled with nervousness as he met my gaze. “What are you doing out here?”

“I needed some air.”

I felt a sense of unease wash over me. His proximity sent a shiver down my spine. He took a step closer, his eyes searched mine with a depth of feeling I’d never seen before.

“I love you.” He confessed; his words hung heavy in the thick air. “I love you so much it hurts. But nothing hurts as much as watching you love my brother.”

My heart pounded in my chest at his declaration. I struggled to comprehend the magnitude of his words.

“You don’t mean that.”

He took a step further.

“You don’t know how I feel.”