- 4 hours ago
The Heat After the AC Died - ENGSUB Slow Burn Romance, Short , Episode
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Short filmTranscript
00:0898 degrees the AC in my room died this morning just gave out I hate this house the way it
00:17is
00:17now anyway I hate the day mom married Kevin and packed him and his quiet 30 another son into my
00:23life two years now every wrong thing under this roof started that day too hot to think
00:35I've kicked off my shorts a tank strap slipping off my shoulder and flopped back on the bed to call
00:43her
00:53mom my AC's broken I'm melting up here her end is all rattling carts and store announcements
00:59I know I know I'm at the store back soon have your brother look at it he's coming home for
01:05lunch
01:05anyway your brother those two words set me off but my brain won't listen it pulls him up before
01:17I can stop it he does HVAC fixes AC lines and pipes all day always slick with sweat last week
01:25in the
01:25kitchen head tipped back chugging ice water his throat working with every swallow a drop running
01:33down his jaw to his collar pine the muscle in his forearm bunching tight as he cranked a valve I
01:39press my thighs together and hate myself the second I do I hate him I really do so what the
01:48hell is this
01:49downstairs the front door clicks open the stairs groan step by step under someone much heavier than me
01:58that's when I remember what I'm wearing I lunge for the shorts on my chair too late the door swings
02:05open Samir work pants gray tank soaked through and clean every line of his chest and stomach right
02:13there toolbox in hand the hair at his forehead damp in strands I should look away I don't my eyes
02:22dragged
02:22down on their own his slick chest his tensed forearms and finally see something you like his voice comes
02:31out rough the corner of his mouth tipping up caught heat shoots all the way to my ears I ripped
02:38the
02:38blanket up over myself who who's looking at you don't flatter yourself he doesn't look away the smirk
02:45only deepens his throat moves once the AC he steps in drops the toolbox and looks down at me curled
02:54up
02:54small where is it over there I jerk my chin at the unit in the corner and pull the blanket
03:03tighter
03:03he doesn't move right away first those heavy eyes drag over me then he comes
03:11the unit sits high on the wall above my headboard my bed right under it the room's small and a
03:17man his
03:17size only makes it smaller he takes one look and frowns get down why should I dig my heels in
03:28though it
03:28sounds hollow the moment it's out two years and this is all I know how to do with him bristle
03:34jab push
03:36back mom remarried he and Kevin moved in and the house stopped being just hers and mine
03:44I came home for the summer wanting some quiet and now I share even my breathing room with this stranger
03:51I can dodge him for an afternoon not for the long line of summers after he doesn't argue one knee
03:59on
03:59the edge of the bed and he stretches up toward the unit I shrink into the corner but the bed's
04:05only so
04:05big as he leans the soaked gray tank brushes my shin heat sweat that sun warmed smell of him all
04:13of it
04:13crashing over me at once his arm works a screw overhead the muscle bunching and releasing inches
04:18from my face I hold my breath I don't dare move no one's downstairs mom's still at the store the
04:24whole
04:25house is quiet just my sun-baked bedroom door shut sealed off from the rest of the world the thought
04:30sends a hotter prickle up my back up here door closed whatever happens no one below would know
04:38move over he says low his elbow pressing toward me there's nowhere to go his hip is against my drawn
04:44up knees I'm wedged between him and the wall half of me pressed to his side I told you I
04:51can't get
04:52away from you he says glancing down his throat moving goes both ways he turns it a few times
05:00swears says the wiring's fried the whole thing has to come apart the minutes crawl the room's hot
05:06enough to swim in the two of us crammed into this scrap of space neither one talking my backs to
05:11the
05:11wall half of me against his sweat damp side the sweat glues us together skin to skin impossible to
05:18peel apart I should be disgusted I'm not I can feel the muscle in his side tighten with every turn
05:23of the screw that strength soaking through a thin film of sweat into my skin sinking low in my belly
05:29a picture rises before I can stop it if that hand weren't reaching for a screw overhead but sliding
05:34down my waist instead I kill the thought my face burns I hate him I think of the wedding day
05:40him standing
05:41there cold not even a hello two years ago I swore I'd never go soft for this man not once
05:47and right now my thighs are clamping together on their own the wet heat there is impossible to
05:53hide slick sticky mortifying it's the weather I lie to myself that's all just the heat irritated I try
06:02to shift to find room to breathe my knee moves and by accident grazes the inside of his thigh his
06:09hands
06:10stop the whole room goes still his voice drops to gravel it travels straight down my ear into my spine
06:17you'd better not move I don't listen my heart slamming and something hotter than hate eggs me
06:22on I push out again elbow digging into his side on purpose the next second his free hand clamps down
06:28on my waist a hand big enough to span half of it too strong to fight and it hauls me
06:32back against him
06:33my gasp jams in my throat my back hits his scalding sweat damp chest his heartbeat through two thin layers
06:39of cotton slams into my spine once again
06:47what are you doing I keep my voice down and claw at the arm locked across my waist
06:52it's cast iron it doesn't give I should break free drive an elbow into him call him a creep bolt
06:58downstairs but my body betrays me it sinks into him fitting against every scalding inch of him
07:04I can feel his breathing turn rough his chest rising and falling at my back
07:11he grunts my elbow jabbing his stomach and in the scramble
07:14quit it
07:16I won't give in and I'm even more scared he sees through me so I open my mouth for another
07:21jab
07:21nothing comes out his free hand lifts and closes around the front of my throat
07:26not hard but sure steady tipping the back of my head into the hollow of his shoulder
07:32every drop of blood in me runs cold then floods back scalding
07:38two years of fighting of cutting each other to the bone and he never once touched me
07:43but now his palm cradles my throat his thumb on the pulse going wild there
07:49and I'm not afraid being held completely in his hand helpless in his grip
07:55it turns me to water
07:58I'm in the same hell you are
08:00his mouth is at my ear his breath hot and horsey each word brended in
08:04but you are going to hold still
08:07his breath fans against the side of my face
08:10no more squirming no more little whimpers making it worse
08:14the hand on my throat tightens a fraction
08:16you hear me?
08:17I try to nod only then does he ease off
08:20I guilt for air my heart wild enough to leap out of my chest
08:26for a long stretch I stay curled against him not daring to move
08:29his arm stays locked around my waist never once loosening
08:32and his thumb against the damp curve of my side moves slow
08:35up then down up then down
08:37every drag of it sends a current sliding down to the small of my back
08:41I clamp my thighs tighter and it only makes the want sharper
08:44I want more
08:46the thought scares me
08:48that's when downstairs the front door clicks open
08:51I'm home!
08:52Becca!
08:53Did your brother go off to fix your AC?
08:56No!
08:57No he didn't!
08:58I call down forcing my voice into its usual annoyance
09:01he's probably off slacking somewhere again
09:03a beat of quiet below
09:04let me come up and look at it
09:06you can't sit in this heat
09:07the staircase creaks taking mom's weight
09:10one step
09:11my blood goes to ice
09:13I claw at his arm
09:17let go she's coming up let go of me
09:19he doesn't
09:20worse
09:21the hand that's been resting at my waist
09:23slides painfully slow down the line of my hip
09:26over my stomach
09:27over the dip of my hip bone
09:29lower still until it settles squarely over me
09:31through the thin fabric already soaked with sweat and something else
09:34my whole body bows tight
09:35a sharp high sound rushes up my throat
09:37I bite down on my lip and swallow it
09:39second stare
09:40creak
09:41he bends his head, nose against my scalding ear
09:43and through the soaked fabric his palm grinds down on me
09:46not soft, not hard
09:47once
09:50soaked like this
09:52and still lying that no one came up
09:54he breathes
09:55low and filthy
09:58Samir
09:58it comes out a plea
10:00my voice in pieces
10:01please
10:02my mom
10:02his thumb presses again
10:04dragging a winner out of me before I can swallow it
10:06the hand doesn't move from where it is
10:08scared now
10:08third step
10:09mom's voice is closer
10:10Becca?
10:12why's the door locked from the inside?
10:13he looks down at me
10:14held completely in his hand
10:16every breath a luxury now
10:18his eyes lit with something that makes me dizzy
10:20he leans to my ear
10:22word by word
10:23so how about
10:25you let your mom
10:26see exactly what you look like
10:29right now?
10:38Becca?
10:39why is this locked from the inside?
10:44his palm is still on me
10:46grinding in that slow
10:47punishing way
10:48that has me shaking all over
10:49his breath brushes my ear
10:51answer her
10:54I'm changing
10:55I call out
10:56my voice in pieces
10:58it's too hot
10:59I'm not dressed
11:00don't come in mom
11:01god this heat
11:03hurry up then
11:04come down and eat
11:04I got sandwiches
11:05and cold pasta salad
11:07step by step
11:08the stairs let her go
11:09soon there's the rustle of plastic bags
11:12the fridge opening and closing
11:14the threat ebbs
11:15I slump back against him
11:17ringed out
11:17gulping air
11:18furious and humiliated
11:20my eyes burning
11:20you're insane
11:21you actually would have
11:22he doesn't answer
11:23and he doesn't do what I expect
11:25doesn't let go
11:26and retreat behind the wall
11:27we've spent two years building
11:28he just holds me
11:30chin on my shoulder
11:31silent for a long time
11:33long enough that I can hear
11:34the fridge humming downstairs
11:36then he says it
11:37low
11:37without a trace
11:38of his usual sneer
11:40I don't want to let go
11:42I go rigid
11:43I twist around
11:45to look at him
11:46two years
11:48and I know
11:49every cruel thing
11:50he's ever said
11:50to me
11:51this wasn't a joke
11:52not even close
11:56we stay frozen
11:57like that
11:58downstairs
11:59mom's putting groceries away
12:01humming something
12:02tune-less
12:03the ac's still dead
12:04the heat lying
12:05thick on my skin
12:06but the heat running
12:08through me
12:08stopped being the weather
12:09a while ago
12:11I've been locked
12:12against him too long
12:13wound too tight
12:14now my lower back
12:16and the tops of my thighs
12:17start to cramp
12:17a deep dragging ache
12:19like the heaviness
12:20before my period
12:21I shift in small movements
12:22trying to work it loose
12:24don't move
12:25he says
12:25low
12:26but it's not his usual
12:28impatience
12:28it's horsey
12:31careful
12:32something I've never
12:33heard from him
12:34I shift again
12:35can't help it
12:37a small noun escapes
12:40both his thumbs
12:41have come to rest
12:42on the outsides
12:42of my thighs
12:43kneading slow
12:44back and forth
12:45the touch lifts
12:46every hair on me
12:47but the ache is worse
12:48I bite my lip
12:49and admit it
12:51my lower back
12:52and where my legs meet
12:54tense too long
12:55it aches
12:56I want to stretch
12:58but you're pinning me
12:59I can't move
13:02his hands pause
13:03on my legs
13:05bring your knees
13:07his voice drops lower
13:10up onto the bed
13:14I twist around
13:15to glare at him
13:16red faced
13:17and lost
13:18Neil
13:19Neil
13:19how
13:20he pats
13:21the narrow space
13:22along his thighs
13:22feet here
13:24then taps
13:25the mattress
13:25in front of me
13:27knees here
13:28when it hits me
13:29what he's asking
13:30my face goes up
13:30in flames
13:31but the ache
13:32is unbearable
13:33and somehow
13:33I do it
13:34his hands settle
13:35on my hips
13:35and guide me forward
13:36easing my feet up
13:37one at a time
13:37knees spreading
13:38by the time
13:39I catch up
13:39I'm straddling
13:40his lap with my back to him
13:41a position so shameful
13:42my toes curl
13:43lean back
13:45he draws me
13:46against his chest
13:48head
13:49back on my shoulder
13:50my throat's dry
13:51and I obey
13:52without knowing why
13:53the back of my head
13:54finds the hollow
13:55of his shoulder
13:55my whole spine
13:56rising and falling
13:57against his scalding
13:59sweat damp chest
14:00his hands lock
14:00on my hips
14:01and slowly
14:01he bears down
14:02lifting my lower body
14:03arching it back
14:04into a deep bow
14:05inch by inch
14:06my whole torso
14:07pulls open
14:07the ache I've held
14:08for so long
14:09lets go all at once
14:10so good
14:11my eyes well up
14:12a long moan
14:13slips out
14:13before I can stop it
14:19he curses low
14:20behind my ear
14:21his nose
14:22bearing into the side
14:23of my neck
14:23dragging once
14:24hard
14:24his breathing
14:25goes racked
14:26his hands
14:27press in harder
14:28deepening the arch
14:29once
14:29twice
14:30open
14:30release
14:31each one
14:31melts the ache
14:32into something else
14:33burning up
14:33from the base
14:34of my spine
14:36we hold it
14:37for almost a minute
14:38before the arms
14:39carrying me
14:39start to shake
14:42I'm smaller than him
14:43but I'm no slip
14:44of a girl
14:46holding me up
14:47in midair
14:47like this
14:48would wear
14:48anyone down
14:50I'm better now
14:51a lie
14:52my face burns
14:53he grunts
14:54and lowers me
14:54back onto his lap
14:55but his hands
14:56don't leave my hips
14:57I know exactly
14:58what it means
14:59still straddling
15:00him back turned
15:01and for some reason
15:02neither of us
15:03moves to fix it
15:03two years of fighting
15:05and this is the longest
15:06we've ever sat together
15:07without tearing
15:08each other apart
15:09that alone
15:10unsettles me
15:10thanks
15:11I say it at last
15:13barely a whisper
15:13he hums
15:16the stubble
15:17on his jaw
15:17drags across my cheek
15:18with it
15:18and a fine
15:19melting tingle
15:20races up my spine
15:21I know I have to
15:22push it down
15:23pretend I didn't
15:24feel it
15:26downstairs
15:26mom's still busy
15:27in the kitchen
15:28humming off key
15:29his long fingers
15:30in time with
15:31every breath
15:32I take
15:32slowly tighten
15:34on my hips
15:34the heavy ache
15:36starts pulsing back
15:37I can't help
15:38squirming
15:39still hurts
15:42sorry
15:44he hesitates
15:45then his hands
15:45come slowly around
15:46from my sides
15:47to the front of me
15:48drop your back down
15:51the rasp in his voice
15:53impossible to hide now
15:54lift your hips a little
15:57he pushes my tank up
15:59and slides both hands
16:00into my shorts
16:01his squirting thumbs
16:02find the two aching knots
16:03at the base of my spine
16:04and press in
16:05steady
16:06grinding down
16:07in slow circles
16:08my lips tremble
16:09I suck in a breath
16:10and a moan
16:11I can't hold pills out
16:12his thumbs circle
16:13leaning in harder
16:14grinding the stiff ache
16:15loose
16:15inch by inch
16:16I clamp down
16:17on my tongue
16:17downstairs
16:18the tap is running
16:19mom washing the produce
16:20please god
16:21she heard nothing
16:22he stills for a few seconds
16:23then he knees deeper
16:25faster
16:25his hands spreading
16:26wider
16:27outward
16:27downward
16:28my hips move
16:29with his rhythm
16:30on their own
16:30his thumbs are too close
16:32enough to turn me
16:32to water
16:33in that place
16:33with every circle
16:34of his hands
16:35betrays me
16:36getting hotter
16:36and hotter
16:37Samir
16:39his name comes out
16:40wrecked
16:40soft and clinging
16:42pleasure spreads
16:43in waves
16:44from where his fingers
16:44press
16:45melting every ache
16:46out of me
16:46I bite my lips
16:47between my teeth
16:48and strangle
16:49the next moan
16:49in my throat
16:50terrified they'll
16:51hear downstairs
16:52below
16:53the water surges
16:54louder
16:55and mom calls up
16:56just a few more minutes
16:58drowning out
16:59every sound
16:59I don't dare make
17:00and under that cover
17:02his hands
17:03the slides
17:03one inch lower
17:06his breathing
17:07changes too
17:07especially the moment
17:08he buries his face
17:09in the curve of my neck
17:10lips against my skin
17:11every hair on my nace
17:12stands up
17:12my whole spine
17:13shivers with that
17:14melting tingle
17:14then suddenly
17:15he pulls his hands
17:16out of my shorts
17:17a small lost whimper
17:18leaks out of me
17:19before I can stop it
17:19the next second
17:20I want to disappear
17:21into the floor
17:21oh god
17:22he was just being decent
17:23for once
17:24working out a cramp
17:25and there I was
17:27panting and windering
17:28under his hands
17:29making those sounds
17:30I must have scared him off
17:32this silence stretches
17:34my heart still pounding
17:36over his hands
17:37over the mouth
17:38he'd press to my neck
17:39I get ready to pull away
17:41ready to say something ugly
17:43and that's when
17:44Samir's fingers
17:44hook the edge of my shorts
17:46and tug
17:47one inch down
17:48his warm mouth
17:49grazes my ear
17:50good girl
17:52he breathes
17:53low and rough
17:54lift your hips
17:55for me again
17:57good girl
17:58lift your hips
18:00for me again
18:00the words land
18:01somewhere deep
18:02inside me
18:03I squeeze my eyes
18:05shut
18:05trying to quiet
18:06my racing heart
18:07and instead
18:08I just obey
18:09lifting my hips
18:10shaking
18:13downstairs
18:13mom's voice
18:14suddenly rises
18:15set up
18:16it's all set out
18:18come eat
18:19before you go back up
18:20it hits like a bucket
18:21of ice water
18:22over my head
18:23Samir goes rigid
18:24and I snap awake
18:26what am I doing
18:27my mom just got home
18:29she's right downstairs
18:30and here I am
18:31in my own room
18:31straddling my stepbrother
18:32lifting my hips
18:33because he told me to
18:34shame torches through me
18:36I shove his hands off
18:37scramble off his lap
18:38yank my shorts up
18:40not daring to look back
18:41I'm going down
18:42Becca
18:43he says behind me
18:44I don't stop
18:45but just before
18:45I pull the door open
18:46I look back at him
18:48after all
18:48he's on the wrecked bed
18:49chest heaving
18:50hair soaked
18:51eyes burning into me
18:52not a trace
18:53of the usual sneer
18:54just something scorching
18:55cut off mid breath
18:56I flee
18:58straight down the stairs
19:02I don't taste
19:03a single bite
19:04of that lunch
19:05across from me
19:06mom rattles on
19:07the store had a sale
19:09the neighbors news
19:10why is your brother
19:11so quiet today
19:12I murmur back
19:14my whole heart
19:15still stuck
19:15in that burning room
19:16upstairs
19:18Samir sits at the
19:19other end
19:19eating with his head
19:20down silent
19:21but I can feel it
19:23every time mom
19:24looks away
19:25his eyes land on me
19:26heavy
19:27hot enough
19:28that I can barely
19:29hold my fork
19:30oh
19:31I have to go help
19:32your aunt move
19:32some things this
19:33afternoon she's swamped
19:34Becca you rest
19:35at home okay
19:36Samir
19:37you're home this
19:38afternoon
19:39if the AC's still
19:40not fixed
19:40call someone
19:41don't let your
19:41sister roast
19:43my grip on the
19:44fork jumps
19:45afternoon
19:45house
19:46just the two of us
19:47my head snaps up
19:48right into his eyes
19:49looking at me
19:50past my mother
19:51he says nothing
19:52just the faintest tip
19:53of his mouth
19:54aimed at me
19:54and the string in me
19:56that just snapped
19:56pulls tight again
19:57humming
20:01the second mom's
20:02out the door
20:02the house goes
20:04so quiet
20:04there's nothing
20:05left but my
20:06own heartbeat
20:08I shut myself in my room
20:10back to the door
20:12telling myself I'm going nowhere
20:13and opening for no one
20:15this morning's madness
20:17never happened
20:18I hate him
20:19I have to remember
20:20I hate him
20:20but my body won't obey
20:23just remembering the heat
20:25of his palm
20:26that good girl
20:27and my legs start to give again
20:28the stairs crack
20:30step by step
20:31taking the weight
20:32I can't escape
20:33the footsteps
20:34stop outside my door
20:37open up
20:38his voice comes
20:39through the wood
20:40low
20:41rough
20:41leaving no room
20:43to refuse
20:43no
20:44I brace against the door
20:46but my voice
20:47is laughably thin
20:48go away
20:49I hate you
20:52a beat of silence
20:53outside
20:55Becca
20:56his voice drops
20:57to almost nothing
20:58each word like it's
20:59spoken against my ear
21:00the way you looked
21:02this morning
21:03didn't look like hate
21:05my face goes up
21:06in flames
21:06my heart slamming
21:07till it aches
21:09I stare at my own
21:11hand on the lock
21:12watch it
21:13beyond my control
21:16slowly turn it open
21:21the instant the door gives
21:23he's through it
21:25I step back
21:26he steps in
21:27and in three strides
21:29he's backs me
21:29into the corner
21:31one hand braced
21:32on the wall
21:32by my head
21:33caging me
21:34between him
21:35and the plaster
21:36heat
21:37sweat
21:38that scent
21:38that's only his
21:39everywhere
21:44what you didn't
21:45finish saying
21:45this morning
21:46he bends down
21:47nose nearly to mine
21:48his breath
21:49scalding
21:49say it now
21:51say
21:51say what
21:52whether you hate me
21:54he cuts me off
21:55a certainty
21:56in his voice
21:57that lifts
21:58every hair on me
21:59look at me
22:00and say it
22:04I lift my eyes
22:05to his
22:05two years of resentment
22:07every I'm fine
22:08I ever fed my mother
22:09and this morning's
22:10surrender
22:10I die before admitting
22:12all of it jams
22:13in my throat
22:13the word comes out
22:15shaking apart
22:16I
22:16he waits
22:17eyes locked on me
22:18without a blink
22:18the hand on the wall
22:19corded with tension
22:20I close my eyes
22:22and let it go
22:22the truth I've held
22:23for two years
22:24and the last of my
22:25dignity with it
22:26I don't know
22:27I hear my own voice
22:28tremble
22:28I just know
22:29don't let go again
22:30his breath catches
22:32the next second
22:33he's kissing me
22:34pressing me into the wall
22:39Becca you got my keys
22:41are they on the entry table
22:42we both freeze
22:44his mouth still on mine
22:46my fist still in his tank
22:47both of us breathing hard
22:49chest against rising chest
22:51one wall and one stair
22:53ace away
22:54my mother's ordinary
22:55afternoon voice
22:56knowing nothing
22:57it cracks through me
22:58like thunder
22:59jolting me out of the heat
23:00that was about to
23:01swallow me whole
23:03I shove him off
23:04frantically fixing
23:05my clothes and my breath
23:06my voice shaking
23:08as I call down
23:09they're on the entry table
23:10just grab them mom
23:13got them
23:14okay I'm off
23:17the whole house
23:18sinks back
23:19into scalding silence
23:20I lean against the wall
23:22legs too weak
23:23to hold me
23:23and look up at him
23:24he's looking back
23:25and what's churning in his eyes
23:27burns hotter than the 98 degree day
23:30neither of us says a word
23:31but we both know
23:33that near miss
23:34one wall away
23:35didn't put us out
23:37it lit something for good
23:39the summer's only just begun
23:42and this door of mine
23:43will never quite shut again
23:48that night at dinner
23:49I can barely sit still
23:50the AC finally got fixed
23:52that afternoon
23:53the four of us around the table
23:54mom on my left
23:55busy topping off
23:56everyone's plate
23:57Kevin across from me
23:58head down over his food
23:59and Samir right at my side
24:01on the surface
24:02everything's normal
24:03mom rattles on
24:04about the neighbors
24:05Kevin grunts now and then
24:06some dull re-roy
24:07playing in the background
24:08I stare at my plate
24:09trying to look like
24:10I have it every meal
24:11for two years
24:11at war with the stepbrother
24:13beside me
24:13too disdainful
24:14to spare him a glance
24:15but under the tablecloth
24:16it's another world
24:17his hand has settled
24:18on my knee
24:18my fork stops in midair
24:19I try to brush him off
24:21without a flicker on my face
24:22he doesn't budge
24:23his palm is hot enough
24:25to feel through my dress
24:26slowly
24:27he slides it
24:28an inch up my thigh
24:29oh
24:30mom speaks up
24:32and I nearly come out
24:33of my chair
24:33is the AC all sorted
24:35did your brother
24:36do okay up there
24:37in that exact second
24:38his hand climbs
24:39another half inch
24:39stops high on my thigh
24:41and presses down
24:42with meaning
24:42like he knows precisely
24:44what he's doing to me
24:45I grip my fork
24:46and force my voice
24:47flat as dead water
24:48hmm
24:48it's fine
24:49passable
24:51passable
24:52Samir's coughs
24:53beside me
24:54cold as if we're
24:54actually fighting
24:55not even turning his head
24:56still as ungrateful as ever
24:58above the table
24:59were still the step-seblings
25:00who can't share a room
25:01beneath it
25:02his thumb grinds
25:03slow circles
25:04into the inside of my thigh
25:06through the dress
25:06I stab at something
25:08and shove it in my mouth
25:09without tasting it
25:10my face is burning
25:11I gulp water
25:13to put it out
25:13but my throat's bone dry
25:15I set down my fork
25:16my voice unsteady
25:18mom
25:18I'll go get something
25:20to drink
25:20I'm practically fleeing
25:22as I stand
25:24and as I turn
25:25for the kitchen
25:26I see it clearly
25:27Samir
25:28in no hurry at all
25:29setting down
25:30his fork too
25:33a half wall counter
25:34separates the kitchen
25:35from the dining room
25:36back to the doorway
25:37I grip the counter
25:38shut my eyes
25:39and breathe deep
25:40trying to push down
25:41the heat in my face
25:42and the chaos
25:43in my chest
25:45behind me
25:45the floor gives
25:46the flattest creak
25:47before I can turn
25:48two hands brace
25:50the counter's edge
25:51caging me between
25:51him and the counter
25:52his chest against my back
25:55his chin on my shoulder
25:56his voice barely there
25:57breath brushing my ear
25:59running from what?
26:01you're insane
26:02I grip the counter
26:03hardly daring
26:04to make a sound
26:05you're right there
26:06one wall away
26:08I know
26:08he laughs low
26:09the vibration
26:10traveling down my spine
26:11into me
26:12he touches nothing else
26:13just drags his nose
26:14painfully slow
26:15over the skin
26:16behind my ear
26:17so you'll have to
26:18hold it in
26:18same as under the table
26:20just now
26:21every drop of blood
26:22in me rushes to my face
26:23from the living room
26:24the TV
26:25the on and off
26:26murmur of mom and Kevin
26:27drifts over clear as day
26:28close enough
26:29that one lifted head
26:30one turn
26:32my breath shakes
26:34Samir
26:35he leans closer
26:36pressing me into the cold
26:38counter's edge
26:38his voice full of
26:40knowing amusement
26:42shaking like this
26:44are you scared of
26:45getting caught
26:46he pauses
26:47we're scared I'll stop
26:50I can't answer
26:51because I don't have
26:53an answer to either
26:54from the dining room
26:55comes the scrape
26:56of a chair leg
26:57on the floor
27:00mom calls
27:01the drinks are on
27:02the bottom shelf
27:02of the fridge
27:03can't you find them
27:04we both go still
27:08found found them
27:09I blurt it
27:10squeezing out
27:11from between him
27:11and the counter
27:12yanking open
27:12the bottom shelf
27:13grabbing two
27:14sparkling waters
27:15at random
27:16only when the cold
27:17bottles hit my
27:18scalding palms
27:19do I get a sliver
27:20of my mind back
27:23Samir steps back
27:25unhurried
27:26and pulls a beer
27:27from the fridge
27:28as if he weren't
27:29the one who just
27:29had me prin to the
27:30counter
27:32I carry the water
27:33back to the table
27:34my legs still
27:36unsteady
27:36but this time
27:38mom doesn't
27:38pick her chatter
27:39back up
27:41she sets down
27:42her forks
27:43and look between
27:43me and Samir
27:45from my flushed face
27:46to the faint mark
27:47on the side of his neck
27:48I only now notices
27:49left there at some
27:50point I can't place
27:52you too
27:52she says slowly
27:54her tone impossible
27:55to read
27:55why aren't you
27:56fighting today
27:58the air locks
27:59Kevin looks up too
28:00my heart pounds
28:01in my ears
28:02two years
28:03and we've never
28:03had a quiet meal
28:04at this table
28:05today's silence
28:06is the biggest
28:06tell of all
28:07fight about what
28:08Samir says it first
28:09flat as if he's
28:10remarking on the weather
28:12can't be bothered
28:13with her
28:15exactly
28:16I jump in
28:17chin up
28:18packing every ounce
28:19of panic
28:19into the familiar jab
28:20like I'd want to
28:22talk to him
28:23mom watches us
28:25for a long time
28:28then she smiles
28:29and picks her fork
28:30back up
28:31good
28:32we're family
28:34no need to be
28:35at each other's
28:36throats all the time
28:37but the moment
28:38she looks down
28:38I catch Kevin's eyes
28:40he says nothing
28:41just lingers a
28:42thoughtful second
28:43on that faint mark
28:43on his son's neck
28:44under the table
28:46Samir's knee bumps
28:47mind very lightly
28:48as if to say
28:49careful
28:49and also
28:51this isn't over
28:54that night
28:55I can't sleep
28:55turning over and over
28:57not just from the
28:58unspent restlessness
28:59humming under my skin
29:00all night
29:01from mom's look
29:02at the table
29:03and Kevin's
29:04one second pause
29:05two fine needles
29:07in the softest part
29:08of my chest
29:09I start thinking
29:10things I've never
29:11let myself think
29:14what if we get caught
29:19to marry Kevin
29:20mom rebuilt
29:21her whole life
29:22from when I was 16
29:24sold the old house
29:25moved to this
29:26strange city
29:27learned at 40
29:28to be a newlywed again
29:30so carefully
29:31she tried to weld
29:32two families
29:32into one home
29:34and here I am
29:35planting a bomb
29:36under it
29:36in the most
29:37unforgivable
29:37way there is
29:40I hate Samir
29:41that's what I've
29:42told myself
29:43and told my mother
29:44for two years
29:45now
29:46I finally see it
29:48that
29:49hate
29:49was laced
29:50with something else
29:51from the start
29:54I hated him
29:55barging in
29:56because I couldn't
29:57stop looking at him
29:59I went toe to toe
30:00with him
30:00because it was
30:01the only way
30:01I dared get close
30:03I dressed up
30:04my wanting
30:04as loathing
30:05and kept it up
30:06for two whole years
30:07until I nearly
30:08believed it myself
30:10in the hall
30:11the floor creaks
30:14my doorknob
30:15turns
30:16very lightly
30:17locked
30:19then a small
30:20folded note
30:21slides in
30:23under the door
30:25barefoot
30:26I slip off the bed
30:27pick it up
30:28unfold it
30:28in the moonlight
30:34Samir's handwriting
30:35one line
30:37they're both out
30:38tomorrow
30:38all day
30:39I hold the note
30:40standing on the
30:41cold floor
30:42my heart nearly
30:43bursting through
30:43my chest
30:45outside
30:46not a breath
30:47of summer wind
30:48and I know
30:49perfectly
30:50clearly
30:52tomorrow
30:52I won't lock
30:54the door
30:54by early
30:55the next morning
30:56the house
30:56is empty
30:57mom and Kevin
30:58head out
30:58with their bags
30:59to help my aunt
31:00move
31:00on the way
31:01mom pokes her
31:02head up the stairs
31:03sort out your own
31:04lunch
31:04there's food
31:04in the fridge
31:05then the garage
31:06door rumbles
31:07down
31:07and the engine
31:09fades
31:09then the whole
31:10house is quiet
31:11enough that all
31:12that's left
31:12is my own
31:13breathing
31:15I don't lock
31:16the door
31:18I lie on the
31:19bed
31:19staring at the
31:20ceiling
31:21and hear his
31:22door open
31:23downstairs
31:23footsteps
31:24step by step
31:26climbing slow
31:26stopping outside
31:28mine
31:28the knob turns
31:30it opens
31:32Samir stands
31:33in the doorway
31:33backlit by the
31:34window
31:35and looks at me
31:36a long time
31:37neither of us
31:38speaks
31:39two years of
31:40friction
31:40last night's
31:41note
31:41the empty
31:42house silence
31:44all of it
31:44pressed into
31:45these few
31:46steps
31:46between us
31:47come here
31:49I hear myself
31:50say it
31:51soft
31:51but without
31:52a shred
31:53of hesitation
31:57he crosses
31:58to me
31:58sits on the
31:59end of the
31:59bed
31:59and tucks
32:00a damp
32:00strand
32:00of hair
32:01behind my
32:01ear
32:03a gesture
32:04too gentle
32:05to be his
32:07I thought
32:07about it
32:08all night
32:09I look at
32:09him and
32:10finish the
32:10sentence
32:10I've hidden
32:11for two
32:11years
32:13I don't
32:13hate you
32:15I never
32:15really
32:16did
32:17his throat
32:18works
32:19he leans
32:20down
32:20forehead
32:21to mine
32:22our breaths
32:23tangling
32:24same
32:26his voice
32:27is almost
32:27too
32:27hoskey
32:28to hear
32:29from the
32:30day you
32:30stood at
32:31that wedding
32:31at 16
32:32and glared
32:32at me
32:33I was
32:33done for
32:36he kisses
32:37me
32:39this time
32:40there are
32:40no footsteps
32:40below
32:41no voice
32:42about to
32:42call us
32:43no threat
32:44waiting to
32:44puncture
32:44everything
32:46just a
32:46room full
32:47of summer
32:47light
32:48and two
32:48people who
32:49don't have
32:49to pretend
32:50anymore
32:51the camera
32:52holds outside
32:53the drawn
32:53curtains
32:56for the next
32:56few days
32:57we live
32:57inside a
32:58stolen
32:58scalding
32:59bubble
32:59by day
33:00the parents
33:01are at
33:01work
33:01and the
33:02house
33:02is
33:02ours
33:02but the
33:03sweeter
33:03it gets
33:04the tighter
33:05the string
33:05in me
33:06pulls
33:06because I
33:07know
33:07this bubble
33:08is borrowed
33:09and sooner
33:10or later
33:10it comes
33:10due
33:11the faint
33:11mark
33:12on Samir's
33:12neck
33:13fades
33:13and a new
33:14one
33:14takes its
33:14place
33:15he keeps
33:15saying it's
33:16fine
33:16but I start
33:17checking his
33:17collar before
33:17every meal
33:18without thinking
33:19and checking
33:20my own
33:20face
33:23we relearn how
33:24to bicker
33:24at the table
33:25except now
33:26every jab
33:27is a code
33:27only the two
33:28of us
33:28can read
33:31the change
33:32starts on a
33:32Saturday
33:33mom suddenly
33:34doesn't go
33:35in
33:35she sits
33:36on the
33:36living room
33:36couch
33:37watching
33:37Samir
33:38and me
33:38come down
33:39the stairs
33:39one after
33:40the other
33:40something in
33:41her eyes
33:41I can't
33:42read
33:45Becca
33:45she pats
33:47the seat
33:47beside her
33:47sit
33:48keep me
33:49company
33:49a minute
33:50Samir's
33:51step
33:51hitches
33:52almost
33:52imperceptibly
33:53before he
33:54keeps going
33:54toward the
33:55kitchen
33:55I sit
33:56my heart's
33:57going wild
34:04lately
34:04mom takes
34:05my hand
34:06her voice
34:06light
34:06but every
34:07word
34:07a hundred
34:07pounds
34:08is something
34:09weighing on
34:10you
34:13half the
34:14blood drains
34:15out of me
34:15no
34:16I manage
34:17a smile
34:17what would
34:18I have
34:18on my
34:19mind
34:19mom looks
34:20at me
34:20a long
34:20time
34:21then lets
34:21out a
34:21soft sigh
34:22when you
34:22were 16
34:23I moved
34:23us here
34:24and you
34:24hated me
34:25for a
34:25long
34:25time
34:25her eyes
34:26drift
34:26to the
34:27window
34:27I know
34:28for my
34:29own
34:29happiness
34:29I pulled
34:30you up
34:30by the
34:30roots
34:30from
34:31everything
34:31familiar
34:33dropped
34:34you into
34:34a strange
34:34house
34:35gave you
34:35a strange
34:36brother
34:39all these
34:40years
34:40I felt
34:41I owed
34:41you
34:41my throat
34:42tightens
34:43I can't
34:43speak
34:44I just
34:45want you
34:45to be
34:45happy
34:45Becca
34:46she turns
34:47back
34:47her eyes
34:48shining
34:49really happy
34:50not the
34:52put on
34:52I'm fine
34:53you show
34:53me
34:53in that
34:54instant
34:54I almost
34:55tell her
34:55everything
34:56almost lay
34:57it all
34:57out
34:58two years
34:59of pretending
34:59these scalding
35:00few days
35:01the knot
35:01of joy
35:02and fear
35:03tangled in
35:03my chest
35:04but I look
35:05at that
35:05careful
35:05light
35:06in her
35:06eyes
35:06the light
35:07of a
35:07woman
35:07who gave
35:08everything
35:08for this
35:09family
35:09and I
35:09swallow
35:10the words
35:17I'm happy
35:18mom
35:19I hug
35:20her
35:20bury my
35:21face
35:21in her
35:22shoulder
35:22my voice
35:23shaking
35:23really
35:26at the
35:27foot of
35:27the stairs
35:27Samir
35:28stair
35:29stands
35:29holding
35:29two
35:30glasses
35:30of water
35:30motionless
35:33he heard
35:35he heard
35:36all of
35:36it
35:42that night
35:43another
35:44note
35:44slides under
35:45my door
35:48this one
35:48is four
35:49words
35:50we need
35:51to talk
35:57we meet
35:58in the
35:58garage
35:59out back
36:00the one
36:01place
36:01in this
36:01house
36:02the parents
36:02won't think
36:03of
36:03and can't
36:04hear
36:04this can't
36:05keep going
36:05or it'll
36:06blow up
36:06Samir
36:07leans
36:07against
36:07the
36:08workbench
36:08his voice
36:09heavy
36:09your face
36:10today
36:10your mom
36:11will see
36:11through it
36:12sooner or
36:12later
36:12so what
36:13do you
36:13want to
36:13do
36:13I cross
36:14my arms
36:14my voice
36:15sharp
36:15even as
36:16my heart
36:17drops
36:20I don't
36:21know
36:21for once
36:22he looks
36:22at a loss
36:23dragging a
36:23hand down
36:24his face
36:24I just
36:25know I
36:26don't want
36:26to keep
36:26you hidden
36:28turn you
36:28into some
36:29secret that
36:29can't see
36:30daylight
36:31you shouldn't
36:32have to be
36:32that
36:32I freeze
36:33but what
36:34can we
36:34do
36:34my voice
36:35trembles
36:36tell them
36:36Becca and
36:37Samir
36:38the step
36:38siblings
36:39are together
36:39picture my
36:40mom's
36:40face
36:41she welded
36:42two families
36:43into one
36:43home
36:44and it
36:44cost her
36:44everything
36:45one sentence
36:46from us
36:47and it
36:47all shatters
36:48the garage
36:49goes quiet
36:50only the
36:51light overhead
36:52buzzing
36:53what if
36:54he says
36:55suddenly
36:55looking at me
36:56his eyes
36:56frighteningly
36:57serious
36:57we weren't
36:58step siblings
36:59what do you
36:59mean
37:03in September
37:04in September
37:04I start the
37:04project out
37:05in Tucson
37:06my own
37:07place
37:07my own
37:08life
37:08word by
37:08word
37:09I won't
37:10live in
37:10this house
37:10anymore
37:13we won't
37:13be siblings
37:14under one
37:15roof
37:15once the
37:16dust settles
37:17once you
37:17graduate too
37:18we can start
37:19over
37:20as something
37:21we don't
37:21have to hide
37:22I look at
37:23him
37:23my heart
37:23aching
37:24with each
37:24beat
37:24it's the
37:25first time
37:26I realize
37:26he isn't
37:27after this
37:28stolen summer
37:28he's after
37:29the after
37:35but some
37:35things don't
37:36wait for you
37:37to be ready
37:39it's a Tuesday
37:40evening
37:41I think the
37:42house is empty
37:43and come out
37:43of the bathroom
37:44and nothing
37:44but a towel
37:45and there's
37:46Samir
37:46waiting in the
37:48hall
37:48he backs me
37:49to the wall
37:50forehead to
37:50mine
37:51both of us
37:52grinning like
37:52kids who
37:53swiped candy
37:55neither of us
37:56hear Kevin's
37:57car
37:57home early
37:58below
37:59or his
38:00footsteps
38:00on the
38:01stairs
38:07Samir
38:08the instant
38:10his father's
38:10voice sounds
38:11from the
38:11end of the
38:12hall
38:12the whole
38:12world
38:13stops
38:13we spring
38:15apart
38:15too late
38:17Kevin stands
38:18at the top
38:18of the stairs
38:19looking at his
38:20son half
38:20wrapped around
38:21me in a
38:21towel
38:22his son's
38:23hand still
38:23at my waist
38:24and his face
38:25freezes
38:26then breaks
38:27inch by
38:28inch
38:29what
38:31are you
38:32two doing
38:32no music
38:34to cover
38:34it
38:36no door
38:37to block
38:38it
38:38no excuse
38:40that holds
38:42this time
38:43we're truly
38:45seen
38:47that night
38:48is the
38:49longest of
38:49my life
38:50Kevin calls
38:51mom home
38:52the four of
38:53us sit in
38:54the living room
38:55under a harsh
38:55white light
38:56mom's face
38:57goes from
38:58confusion
38:58to disbelief
39:00to something
39:01I'll never
39:01forget
39:02heartbreak
39:05how long
39:06mom
39:07I asked
39:08how long
39:13this summer
39:15Samir speaks
39:16first
39:16stepping in
39:18front of me
39:18as if to
39:19shield me
39:20I started
39:21it
39:22blame me
39:23no
39:26I grab
39:27his hand
39:27my voice
39:28shaking
39:28but holding
39:29not just
39:30him
39:31us
39:33mom
39:33I know
39:34this is
39:34hard to
39:34take
39:35we're not
39:36blood
39:36but we
39:36became
39:37siblings
39:37inside
39:38your
39:38marriage
39:38to
39:39Kevin
39:41I know
39:42how absurd
39:43that is
39:43how much
39:44it hurts
39:44mom
39:45covers
39:46her face
39:46her shoulders
39:47shaking
39:48hard
39:48Kevin
39:49can't
39:50get out
39:50a single
39:50word
39:51just
39:51stares
39:51at the
39:52floor
39:53I spent
39:54two years
39:54pretending
39:55to hate
39:55him
39:55because
39:56I knew
39:56from the
39:56start
39:57it was
39:57wrong
39:57but mom
39:59I can't
39:59keep
39:59pretending
40:00in the
40:00living room
40:01all that's
40:01left is
40:02mom stifled
40:02crying
40:03in that
40:04moment
40:04I finally
40:05understand
40:05what a
40:05price is
40:06it isn't
40:06the thrill
40:07of getting
40:07caught
40:07it's
40:08watching
40:08the
40:08person
40:08you
40:09love
40:09most
40:09break
40:09because
40:10of
40:10you
40:13for the
40:14next
40:14two
40:14weeks
40:15the
40:16house
40:16is
40:16frozen
40:17over
40:18mom
40:18barely
40:19speaks
40:19to
40:19me
40:21not
40:21anger
40:22the
40:23harder
40:23kind
40:23of
40:24silence
40:24kevin
40:25moves
40:25into
40:26the
40:26study
40:26to
40:26sleep
40:27samir
40:28moves
40:28up
40:28his
40:29transfer
40:29to
40:29tucson
40:30and
40:30we
40:30agree
40:30until
40:32the
40:32dust
40:32settles
40:32neither
40:33of us
40:33crosses
40:34a single
40:34line
40:35it's
40:35the
40:36penance
40:36we
40:36set
40:36for
40:37ourselves
40:39i
40:39think
40:40this
40:40is
40:40how
40:40the
40:40family
40:41splits
40:41apart
40:43the
40:43bomb
40:44i
40:44planted
40:44with
40:45my
40:45own
40:45hands
40:45finally
40:46went
40:46off
40:47but
40:47one
40:47night
40:47going
40:48down
40:48for
40:48water
40:49i find
40:49mom
40:50alone
40:50in the
40:50kitchen
40:51two
40:51untouched
40:52cups
40:52of
40:52tea
40:52in front
40:53of
40:53her
40:54sit
40:58i sit
40:58and wait
40:59for the
40:59verdict
41:01when i was
41:0219
41:04i fell
41:05for
41:05someone
41:05everyone
41:06said
41:06i
41:06shouldn't
41:08my
41:08mother
41:09your
41:09grandmother
41:10wouldn't
41:10speak
41:10to me
41:11for
41:11three
41:11years
41:12i thought
41:13i'd
41:13long
41:13forgotten
41:13that
41:14feeling
41:14knowing
41:15it
41:15in
41:15your
41:15heart
41:16and
41:16not
41:16being
41:16able
41:16to
41:17tell
41:17a
41:17soul
41:17i'm
41:18not
41:18giving
41:18you
41:18my
41:19blessing
41:19she
41:19looks
41:20at
41:20me
41:21exhaustion
41:22struggle
41:22and
41:23a
41:23small
41:24loosening
41:25i need
41:26time
41:26kevin
41:27needs
41:27more
41:28this
41:28may
41:28not
41:29be
41:29fixable
41:29and
41:30you
41:30should
41:30be
41:30ready
41:30for
41:31that
41:33but
41:33i
41:33won't
41:33force
41:34you
41:34to
41:34keep
41:34playing
41:34i'm
41:35fine
41:35anymore
41:36my
41:36tears
41:37come
41:37all
41:37at
41:37once
41:38it
41:38isn't
41:38forgiveness
41:41but
41:41it's
41:41a
41:41beginning
41:44in
41:45september
41:45samir
41:46moves
41:46out
41:46we
41:47don't
41:47say
41:47goodbye
41:48in
41:48secret
41:48in
41:49front
41:49of
41:49mom
41:50and
41:50kevin
41:50he
41:50loads
41:51the
41:51last
41:51box
41:51into
41:52the
41:52car
41:52then
41:53comes
41:53to
41:53me
41:53and
41:54under
41:54both
41:54their
41:55eyes
41:55says
41:55it
41:56plainly
41:56i'll
41:57wait
41:57for
41:58this
41:58family
41:58to
41:58take
41:58its
41:59time
41:59for
41:59you
41:59to
41:59graduate
42:00i
42:00won't
42:00rush
42:01it
42:01but
42:02i
42:02won't
42:02pretend
42:02none
42:02of
42:03this
42:03happened
42:03either
42:04kevin
42:04turns
42:05his
42:05face
42:05away
42:05and
42:05says
42:06nothing
42:06but
42:06he
42:06doesn't
42:07stop
42:07it
42:07mom
42:07stands
42:08on
42:08the
42:08porch
42:08arms
42:09around
42:09himself
42:09watching
42:09us
42:10after
42:10a
42:10long
42:11moment
42:11she
42:11gives
42:11the
42:12faint
42:12barely
42:12perceptible
42:13nod
42:13the
42:14car
42:14pulls
42:14away
42:15that
42:15stolen
42:16scalding
42:17summer
42:17is over
42:17but
42:18strangely
42:19i don't
42:19feel
42:20the
42:20emptiness
42:20i
42:20expected
42:21because
42:21this
42:22time
42:22his
42:22leaving
42:23isn't
42:23running
42:24isn't
42:24an
42:24ending
42:24it's
42:25the
42:25two
42:25of
42:25us
42:26choosing
42:26together
42:27the
42:27harder
42:27road
42:28we can
42:28walk
42:28in the
42:29open
42:29i
42:30turn
42:30to
42:30go
42:30in
42:31mom
42:31stops
42:32me
42:32at
42:32the
42:32door
42:33hesitates
42:34then
42:34reaches
42:34out
42:35to
42:35smooth
42:35the
42:35hair
42:36the
42:36wind
42:36has
42:36must
42:37the
42:37same
42:38gesture
42:38exactly
42:39as
42:40that
42:40morning
42:40two
42:40months
42:41ago
42:41except
42:42this
42:42time
42:42neither
42:43of
42:43us
42:44have
42:44to
42:44pretend
42:44anymore
42:47what
42:47follows
42:48is a
42:48long
42:48year
42:49samir
42:50in
42:50tucson
42:51me
42:52at
42:52school
42:54we
42:55keep
42:55it
42:55clean
42:55almost
42:56like
42:56we're
42:56meeting
42:57each
42:57other
42:57for
42:57the
42:57first
42:58time
42:58calls
42:59texts
43:00the
43:00occasional
43:01weekend
43:01at
43:01a
43:01cafe
43:01where
43:02no
43:02one
43:02knows
43:02us
43:03like
43:03two
43:03ordinary
43:04adults
43:04finally
43:05doing
43:05this
43:06right
43:08the
43:08ice
43:09at
43:09home
43:09melts
43:09slowly
43:12kevin
43:13gives
43:13first
43:14one
43:15thanksgiving
43:15at the
43:16table
43:17he asks
43:18for the
43:18first
43:18time
43:19unprompted
43:20how's
43:21samir
43:21doing
43:21and
43:22something
43:22starts
43:23to
43:23seep
43:23into
43:23mom's
43:24silence
43:24too
43:25she
43:26begins
43:26asking
43:27if
43:27i'm
43:27okay
43:28and
43:28when
43:28she
43:28asks
43:29her
43:29eyes
43:29are
43:29really
43:30on
43:30me
43:31not
43:32every
43:32story
43:32gets
43:33a
43:33clean
43:33tidy
43:33forgiveness
43:34our
43:35family
43:35welded
43:36its
43:36cracks
43:36back
43:36together
43:37inch
43:37by
43:37patient
43:38inch
43:38some
43:39places
43:40will
43:40always
43:41carry
43:41the
43:41scar
43:43but
43:44a scar
43:45is
43:45proof
43:45of
43:45healing
43:46too
43:50the
43:51next
43:51next
43:51summer
43:51i
43:52graduate
43:56on
43:57graduation
43:58day
43:58mom
43:59and
43:59kevin
43:59are
44:00in
44:00the
44:00audience
44:02and
44:03beside
44:03them
44:03at
44:04a
44:04respectable
44:04distance
44:05samir
44:09there
44:10is
44:10someone
44:10who
44:11doesn't
44:11have
44:11to
44:11hide
44:12anymore
44:15that
44:15summer
44:16is
44:16brutally
44:16hot
44:16again
44:17i
44:18moved
44:18to
44:18tucson
44:19a
44:19small
44:19apartment
44:20a
44:20ten
44:20minute
44:20walk
44:20from
44:21samir's
44:21place
44:22we
44:23don't
44:23live
44:23together
44:24mom
44:25said
44:25to
44:25take
44:25it
44:25slow
44:26and
44:26we
44:26both
44:26agreed
44:28on
44:29moving
44:29day
44:30the
44:30ac
44:30breaks
44:33i
44:33collapse
44:34among
44:34the
44:34boxes
44:34dizzy
44:35with
44:35heat
44:36and
44:36somehow
44:36think
44:37of
44:37that
44:37identical
44:38afternoon
44:38two
44:38years
44:39ago
44:40lying
44:41in
44:41a
44:41stifling
44:41room
44:42hating
44:42a
44:42man
44:43unable
44:44to
44:44stop
44:44pressing
44:45my
44:45thighs
44:45together
44:46i
44:46laugh
44:47out
44:47loud
44:47then
44:48i
44:48pick
44:48up
44:48my
44:48phone
44:48and
44:49text
44:49him
44:49my
44:50ac
44:50is
44:51broken
44:51over
44:51here
44:54minutes
44:54later
44:55familiar
44:55footsteps
44:56come up
44:56the
44:57stairs
44:57step
44:58by
44:58step
45:01the
45:02doors
45:02unlock
45:02he
45:03stands
45:03in
45:04the
45:04doorway
45:04toolbox
45:05in
45:05hand
45:06gray
45:06tank
45:07hair
45:07soaked
45:08at
45:08the
45:08forehead
45:09identical
45:09to
45:10the
45:10first
45:10glimpse
45:11of
45:11him
45:11that
45:11summer
45:11except
45:12this
45:12time
45:13he
45:13isn't
45:13the
45:13stranger
45:13who
45:14barged
45:14into
45:14my
45:14life
45:15and
45:15took
45:15my
45:15mother
45:15and
45:16he
45:16isn't
45:16the
45:16step
45:17brother
45:17i
45:17have
45:17to
45:17pretend
45:18to
45:18hate
45:18where
45:18is
45:18it
45:18broken
45:21i look
45:22at
45:22him
45:22the
45:23man
45:23i
45:23resisted
45:23with
45:23two
45:24years
45:24of
45:24pretending
45:24and
45:25then
45:25fought
45:25for
45:25with
45:26all
45:26the
45:26honesty
45:26i
45:26had
45:27after
45:27and
45:27the
45:27thing
45:28that
45:28caught
45:28fire
45:28in
45:28me
45:29that
45:29scalding
45:29summer
45:30burns
45:30now
45:30steady
45:31and
45:31sure
45:34come
45:35come
45:35here
45:35i'll
45:36show
45:36you
45:39outside
45:39the
45:40window
45:40summer
45:41is
45:41just
45:41beginning
45:43and
45:44this
45:44time
45:44we
45:45have
45:45all
45:45the
45:46time
45:46in
45:46the
45:46world
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