Letting My Brother's Best Friend Take My V-Card

My Husband 391

REPORTERS

288 Vouchers REPORTERS LAURA

The nurse helped guide me into my seat, her hands gentle but firm as she made sure I was secure. I bit my lip, trying to ignore the deep frustration bubbling beneath the surface. I hated this. Hated needing help for everything. The airport had already drained me more than I cared to admit.

Reporters had been everywhere. Cameras flashing in my face, microphones shoved too close, voices overlapping in an unrelenting storm of invasive questions.

"Laura, how does it feel knowing your husband moved on with your daughter's teacher?"

"Are you mentally fit to return home?"

"Can you walk? Are you able to take care of your child?"

Like I was some sort of spectacle. A tragic story to be dissected, to be whispered about in headlines and morning shows.

The worst part?

I had nothing to say.

Because what could I say? That I didn't blame Josh? That I wasn't mad? That I understood?

11:13

REPORTERS

288 Vouchers

Even if all of that was true, it didn't mean it didn't hurt.

I had forgiven him. I knew I had. But that didn't erase the ache that settled deep in my bones when I let my mind wander too long.

It was easier during the day, when Asha was around, her bright blue eyes-Josh's eyes-watching me with careful curiosity, her soft blonde curls falling over her face as she played. She was still shy, still unsure about me.

didn't blame her for that,

was a

but

something I would have to

sat beside me as the plane took off, her presence a silent reassurance. The flight was long-too long. Ten hours

the engines became white noise as exhaustion pulled at me, but every time I closed my eyes, flashes

The sharp impact.

before my body hit something

Then... nothing.

Just darkness.

11:137

REPORTERS

pain. But I didn't remember a single second of the years in between.

one night and woken up the next

had grown. Josh had grieved,

had missed all of

clenched slightly against the armrest, and I forced myself to focus on

turned my head toward the window, watching the clouds stretch endlessly

got back home, I would

needed to walk again. I needed to regain my strength. I

to be me

with a jolt, and I let out a slow breath, my body tense from being in the same position for so long. I hated flying before the accident-being stuck in a metal tube, thousands of feet in the air, with no control over anything-but now,

me helped unbuckle my seatbelt and gently placed a hand on my arm. "We'll wait until most of the passengers deboard. Give

barely paying attention. My mind was still

11:137

REPORTERS

288 (Vouchers

a

I wasn't going home.

not to the home I

I was going