“Tristan?”I lift my eyes from the cup of coffee I’ve been staring at for the past twenty minutes. I look at Sophie, who waves in my face. “Hm?”“I’ve been talking for the last twenty minutes, and you’ve not even been listening to me.” She huffs slumping back in her chair and crossing her arms over her chest, seemingly annoyed with me annoyed.I shake my head, “I’m sorry, babe, I’ve just got a lot on my mind.” I sigh and reach over. I take her hand in mine and rub her knuckles gently. “I’m listening,”Sophie smiles and places her hand over mine. “I was saying now you’re getting divorced tomorrow we can arrange a dinner and get our families together to announce that we’re back together again. Wouldn’t that be nice?”I rub my forehead and smile, “Soph, that’s a great idea, but let’s do it in a couple of month

Josh rolls his eyes, shaking his head, “Jesus, Cole. I thought you decided you were letting this Shayla thing go man?”“I am!” I shout angrily. “She fucking left. She left work. She’s leaving home; she’s leaving me tomorrow!” I groan and turn my head to look at Josh. “Will you take me to her?”Josh laughs, shaking his head. “No. You show up at her door like this she’s going to think you’re a moron. The only place you’re going right now is to bed, my friend. You need to sleep it off. You’re going to see her tomorrow anyway. You can tell her whatever you need to tell her there.” He explains, and I groan staring out of his window up at the black sky.An hour later, Josh carries, half drags me through my apartment to my bedroom. “No, no, no,” I mumble, pointing at Shayla’s bedroom. “In there.” Josh nods and carries me over to her bed and drop

Is there a pain worse than watching the man you're in love with break down in your arms after losing someone he loves dearly? This was the man he looked up to growing up, and he just watched him die right in front of his eyes. The way his head fell into my lap and his heartfelt sobs would haunt me for an awfully long time. Grandpa Joe held my hand so tight they hand to pry his fingers from mine. I couldn't suppress the whimper that escaped me, especially when I heard Elaine's screams of despair over losing her father. I know that feeling all too well. Grandpa Joe died surrounded by his children and grandchildren; even if he didn't recognise any of them, in the end, he died in peace with the image of the love of his life before his eyes.Someone once told me that right before you die, the angel of death appears to you as the person you love the most, and to Grandpa Joe, that was Grandma Maisie. I may have only met him a couple of months ago, but I grew to love him just as I di

There he stood. All six-foot-four of him, looking just as wrecked as I was feeling. Our eyes meet, and he looks at me and shrugs before he walks in and pulls me into his arms, burying his face into my neck. "I can't breathe. I feel like everything is closing in around me." He cries. "Can I stay with you tonight?" I look over at Aimee who places her hand over her chest, her eyes filling with tears."Of course," I whisper, wrapping my arms around his neck and he squeezes me tightly. Why does he keep doing this to me, and why do I keep letting him? Why can't he just let me go? We pull apart, and I close the door once he walks into my apartment. He greets the girls with a nod, and they both walk over and hug him, which he returns."We're so sorry for your loss Cole," Jo says when they pull away from the hug. Cole nods and shrugs."Thanks, girls and I'm sorry to show up like this. I just couldn't bear being alone tonight." Aimee and Jo both nod in understanding.

Two weeks...That's how long it's been since I walked away from Shayla after that night, I spent with her. The last time I saw her was at Grandpop's funeral a week later. I didn't know she'd be there so when I saw her, the emotions I'd been suppressing bubbles up again. She sat two rows behind me on the other side at the church. I kept looking back at her, and her eyes would find mine, and we'd stare at one another until she breaks the eye contact looks ahead. Sophie was stuck to my side the entire time, so I couldn't even speak to her properly, which fucked me off royally. After the burial, she disappeared without a word, and I still remember my gut twisting in disappointment. I made her a promise that I would let her be and I'm trying to keep my word, but it's just so hard.That morning I woke up in her arms. I must have fallen asleep while she read to me. I can see why Grandpop loved it when she read to him. Something is soothing about the way she reads that calms y