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Sandy

Thunder rolled, the intensity shaking the walls ofwith vivid flashes of white, creating eerie shadows on the wall

I shivered at the ferociousness of the stor, war e in the dark

“It’s all right, irl I have you”

I sirl from the day we met Max was divorced, an established, well-respected physician, and twenty-two years my senior His son, Aaron, was one of my best friends Aaron and I enjoyed each other’s co between us and instead pursued an a friendship He was close to his dad and talked about him often

I saw the, and I went over to say hello to Aaron and meet his dad The instant our eyes met, Max and I bonded It was as if there was an invisible thread pulling us together, and neither of us could control the draw

I never ht—Max and I were never apart again We were ether weathered the stares, gossip, and slurs that followed us because of our age difference Eventually, they died down, and we ree It was about your heart, the love it contained, and how you let that love guide you

I relaxed into Max, allowing his strength to comfort me “I hate storms,” I murmured

He kissed the sensitive spot behind my ear with a low chuckle “I know That’s why I’m here”

“It’s a bad one”

“It is,” he agreed, his voice getting quieter “But you’re going to be fine You’re a strong, brave woman, Sandy It’s one of the reasons I loved you so much You were my rock”

I frowned, a frightening grip for inin the past tense?”

“You knohy It’s tiirl Time to move on”

A treh me “Max, no, please…”

I felt the light brush of his mouth on my shoulder “You’re fine, Sandy I knew you would be We both knew you would be We wouldn’t have been so solid together otherwise”

A tear ran down my cheek “Stay, please”

“I can’t, Sandy”

“Why?” I whimpered

“Because I’ain” His voice drifted away “You need that I want that for you But I love you, Sandy I will always love you”