DARE-TO-LOVE-TRUTH-AND-DARE-DUET-COLLECTION-by-Lylah-James-pdfarchive

She was hunched over the bench, her legs up on the
seat with her arms wrapped around her knees. Lila
looked… lost.
I stayed in my car for a few more minutes, giving her
some time by herself. I knew why she was here. Sunset
Cemetery Park.
Her parents were here.
Did you know that Lila never cries? Never, except one
day of the year. On that day, she cries alone; she hides her
tears from everyone. That’s the only day she lets herself
feel pain.
And I knew what that day was, what today was, and why
it was so important for Lila.
Sweet Lila – the fiery dragon with a fragile heart.
I stepped out of the car when I couldn’t stay away any
longer. The cold wind blew hard, and Lila hugged herself
tighter. There was a magnetic pull between us, and I
walked toward her without even realizing my feet were
taking me to her side.
She didn’t move when I settled at her side on the bench,
didn’t look up, didn’t even acknowledge my presence.
Silently, I grasped her hand and pulled it away from her
knees. She clutched my hand, and I squeezed hers in
return, a silent vow.
I’m not letting go, Lila.
She didn’t speak, and I didn’t dare break the silence.
Lila quietly sniffled and dashed away her tears with her
other hand, but she couldn’t keep her cries in. She cried
her little heart out, a desolate sob coming from a person
drained of all her hopes and dreams.
As if realizing now that she was holding onto my hand,
she tried to wrench it away from me. I held fast, squeezing
her hand in comfort. “Go…away,” Lila murmured.
I stayed silent, refusing to utter a word, but also
refusing to leave.