Two days after I left, Austin showed up at Addison\u2019s door.<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t bring flowers. He didn\u2019t bring excuses.<\/p>\n
He looked tired.<\/p>\n
Like the weight of everything finally caught up to him when there was no one left to absorb it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI called the restaurant,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cI apologized. I sounded like an idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also called my mom. Told her everything. For once\u2026 I didn\u2019t shift it onto you.\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t realize how much you were carrying until you stopped carrying it for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
That line hit harder than anything he\u2019d said in years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not asking you to come home tonight,\u201d he added. \u201cI just\u2026 don\u2019t want to lose you.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time, there was no assumption in his voice.<\/p>\n
Only fear.<\/p>\n
And understanding.<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
Fifteen years of being \u201cstill there tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now he was finally learning what it meant when tomorrow wasn\u2019t guaranteed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know what happens next,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
He nodded. \u201cNeither do I. But I want to learn it with you this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
And for the first time in a long time\u2026 I didn\u2019t automatically say yes.<\/p>\n
Or no.<\/p>\n
Just: \u201cWe\u2019ll see if you mean it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Two days after I left, Austin showed up at Addison\u2019s door. He didn\u2019t bring flowers. He didn\u2019t bring excuses. He looked tired. Like the weight of everything finally caught up to him when there was no one left to absorb it. \u201cI called the restaurant,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cI apologized. I sounded like an idiot.\u201d…<\/p>\n