Dear Ex-wife Marry Me by Twin Bridge

Shirley had barely stepped off the plane when her phone buzzed with a call from James, informing her that Abner had been assaulted.

She thought she'd misheard. Abner, always so mild-mannered and non-confrontational, getting into a fight?

Rushing to the hospital, she spotted James in the hallway.

"Mr. James."

"Shirley!"

James, visibly shaken and with a trembling voice, blurted out, "He was rushed into the ER last night. He's stable now, just a minor concussion, but he's lost quite a bit of weight. Go see him." Shirley, heart pounding, hurried into Abner's room.

Abner, awake with bandages wrapped around his head and looking pale, barely whispered, "Shirley?"

"Abner!" Shirley's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

"What happened? How did you end up fighting?"

Abner hung his head in silence, but James couldn't hold back and spilled everything about how Abner's background had been exposed.

Shirley was taken aback. The ordeal had been ongoing for two months, with Abner facing isolation at school, yet he hadn't breathed a word of it to her.

"Shirley, don't get mad. It wasn't Abner who sought trouble. It was a few boys from another class who cornered him."

eyes as she grasped Abner's hand. "Why didn't you tell

want

felt an

could he be so

took a deep breath. "Rest up. Mr. James and I will handle some

stern, signaling her intent to get to the bottom of

at her sleeve, reluctant

thought he was scared and gently patted his head, careful to avoid

okay, I'll be

and a weak smile,

shocking sight on the sports field where the honor roll was usually posted.

out of our

Shirley trembled with rage.

James, the school is letting

his temples, equally

months ago, a group of parents petitioned to have Abner moved to

Why should he

down. I know

you

up his grades and

He's too understanding, and that's why