“Truth or dare?” he asks out of nowhere.
“Truth. Brave people always choose the truth.” I grin.
“Is it true that you’ll always be mine?” He lowers his mouth to my ear, his warm breath tickling my skin.
“It’s a truth. And sometimes, when you piss me off, it’s a dare. But it’s my life, and you’re a part of it. Always and forever,” I say.
“Always and forever,” he repeats, and I hold on to my anchor, squeezing it—and my real-life anchor—hard.
Your pain is mine, and I want to shoulder it, because I can. Because that’s what I do. I carry my pain all the time. Let me take away yours, my touch begged him.
Me:
Are you guys having fun?
Jaime:
You bet we are. But I can’t stop thinking about you.
Me:
Is that why you left without explaining?
Jaime:
Yes, Mel. That’s exactly why I left without explaining. Because I think about you before I think about myself. Always remember that, Little Ballerina. Always.”