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I hope he isn’t hurt.

Another.

Just turn onto the street.

Please.

Another.

He promised.

The light begins to fade. The street lights come on, their soft glow illuminating the trees that line our street.

He’ll be here.

As the cool evening air tickles my skin, I pull a sweater out of my bag and drape it over my lap. There’s no point in putting it on just to take it off when I get in Ryder’s car. He always has the heat up way too high.

He loves me, he won’t leave me.

It’s dark now.

When he left he swore he’d be back.

The light in the Johnson’s top window goes out. They put their twins to bed at the same time every night. They’re about the same age as Joey. Sometimes they play together. I wonder if they’ll play when I’m gone?

The wind has picked up now, sending a chill straight through my bones. The tear streaks down my face have caused all my makeup to run and my chest hurts so bad that I have to look down just to make sure it hasn’t been ripped open.

He really never came.

He never loved me.

I’m alone.