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tece26

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1. “Hey I’m here!” Lynn called as she walked into the apartment. “I brought up your mail.” She walked through the front hall placing the mail on a small table that was already piled high with mail, books and other junk. “Anybody home? I thought we were gonna go out tonight.”
2. She heard a small curse come from the back of the apartment.  Picking her way around the mess she walked toward the origin of the voice.
3. “Stupid, stupid, stupid!” Joey said as he limped around the desk in the small room that was at the moment clean. Then Lynn realized it was because it seemed everything had fallen to the ground and was scattered across the floor. Joe leaned back on his good leg absently rubbing his bad one. He had ear plugs in his ear listening to music. He hadn’t heard her coming in.
4. Lynn leaned on the door jam and watched as her friend sat down in a chair and reached with his good arm to start collecting the papers closest to him. It was hard on him she knew, not only recovering from the fall six years ago, but seeing his father arrested for child abuse. He lost the only family he had left after his mother ran out on them, and at the same time dealing with some major injuries. He had had to learn to walk again and would always have problems with his right hip and knee. He had broken ribs, arm and his collar bone. So much to go through, but he never complained. He was so strong, so brave.
5. She was pulled out of her daydream when she heard him curse again. He had slipped and fallen out of the chair reaching for some stuff farther under the desk. Lynn jumped up and went over to help pick stuff up. As she crossed behind his chair she ran her hand across his back to let him know she was there. Joe jumped, surprised at her appearance, and quickly wiped his eyes. He had been crying, and it broke her heart.
6. “Joey?”
7. “Lynnie,” he avoided looking at her eyes, “I didn’t realize it was so late.”
8. She looked up at him from her spot on the floor and put her hand on his knee. “Hey Joe, Joey, look at me.” She waited until he did. “What’s wrong? Talk to me.”
9. “Nothing, I’m fine.” He looked away again and waited but Lynn didn’t move. “I got a call from my father this morning.” He finally said quietly.
10. “Oh wow! I didn’t think he could or would even dare.” She tried moving so he would look at her again. “What did he want?”
11. “He called to say he was getting out. They are letting him go and I still feel small and…” he trailed off. “I feel like I did back then when I was talking to him. And then this.” He threw his hands around. “Things like this keep happening and reminding me I’m not able to defend myself, not that I need to, but being in that mind set just makes me realize how pathetic my life is, you know?”
12. “Stop that!” She surprised herself by shouting. Then she got up on her knees and took his face in her hands. “You know what I was just thinking? Just before I came to help you?”
13. He just stared at her, the pain and misery so clear in his eyes she wanted to do anything to take it away.
14. “I was thinking how amazing you are. How strong and brave. I have never seen or heard of anyone going through what you have gone through and you are one of the most important people in my life. I love you Joey, please understand that. It hurts me to see you hurting.”
15. “Lynnie don’t say that.” He took her hand on his face and held it.
16. “It’s true and I know Sammy feels the same way, don’t let your dad make you doubt your worth for even a second..”
17. His smile stopped her. “What?”
18. “I like it when you get all worked up like this. But what I meant was don’t say you love me.”
19. Lynn looked up at him and thought about what she had just said. Then as she realized she had meant it even more than when it came out at first said very slow and clear, “But I do Joey. I love you.”
20. Joe closed his eyes and whispered “I have loved you for so long, but Lynnie…” He never finished his sentence. Lynne came up and brushed her lips across his and wrapped her arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer as the kiss deepened. Lynn breathed him in and her head swam as she took in the feel of him, the taste. Everything was so right.
21. Joe was the first to pull away when they heard the door open.
22. “Hey guys!” Sam called out. “Lynnie I saw your car out front. Where are you? The movie starts in like fifteen minutes let’s move!”
23. “I can’t.” Was all Joe whispered as he stood up and limped away, leaving Lynn on the floor.