Love's Unexpected Path

that d

oid left by tragedy and carry the

e government agency, my real

lives in the earthquake. It appeared that my birth father's family was unwilling to take

cial worker during a visit to our home. "You have a

treme eagerness, Alex wa

been completely remodeled and changed beyond

erstand his

s sister's place, and he

t immediately run to Lucy to complain about my brother's

n my room, and I loved Henry's canned peas and the family pack

ing experienced the loss of loved ones myse

er eventually realized that no matter what he did, he couldn't

his usual bitterness to lea

existence until I became in

lived in a pretty monot

in seventh grade when Emma started dating a

ie theater and qu

ible sense of humor, en

occasions, we would ride our bikes with him at night to Walker Park, where we would watch outdoor movies and

riend, I had seen him many times before, but this

nd starry freckles scattered across his nose, he was incredibly handsome and cute. He flashed me a d

crush on hi

experience having my homework torn up at school o

dressing me up like an angel when I was little and made sure I received a good education. Sh

good fortune should b

d would often walk halfway across the cafeteria during lunchtim

you're asking me if I've seen the psycho?" I conveyed my disbeli

couple. However, after two years of being just friends, he showed up at my ho

it, I was

series of short-lived relationships. Lucy a

the occasional discovery of condoms and mo

uent advice during that time, as she found love again shortl

see that there are g

ps and downs, luck smiled upon me when my ex

t caramel-haired sweetheart, and at the same

de snide remarks whenever he could and did everyth

ell phone incessantly rang throughout the entir

ere's something romantic between you two.

after answering the phone. He looked down and kissed m

ils of our breakup were something I preferred not

ball game together, but I ended up being the only one

accident on the way

to see him,

m being a plea

ge, Alex didn't bother putt

keychain, with a label on the back clea

his job at the supermarket. The thoughtlessness behind the gift only add

h his eyebrows furrowed tightly, and his golde

ve the table. We don't welcome people who disrespect

aving me struggling for breat

ng to alleviate the tension, bu

g the silent and tense exchange between father and

o blame me for the tension at the table. As he stormed away - a quarter of th

al lost its flavor, tainte

cerns shifted to my neglected history homewo

was about my adoptive mother's mother, Alex's grandmother, who had been unexpectedly d

behind to watch the house; after all, t

grandfather visited our home, they treate

casionally, she would put on a facade of hospitality and remi

ore me, and he was smart enough