“Let me get you somewhere safe. That’s all.”
He was calm, like a shelter in a storm I hadn’t realized I’d been standing in for years. Still, I shook my head.
“I’ll get a taxi.
I just… I need to clear my head.”
He nodded, understanding. Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
“Okay.
But let me give you my number. Or you can give me yours. No pressure, just…
in case.”
I hesitated again, then typed it in. He waited with me until a cab pulled up, holding the door open like it was second nature. When I finally got in, he didn’t say anything else.
Just gave me a small, sad smile and stepped back.
As the cab pulled away, I pressed my fingers against my lips to stop them from trembling. I kept replaying his words in my head, “You’ve embarrassed me enough,” over and over, like a cruel lullaby. I didn’t feel angry yet.
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