AA Chapter 12.3

Just two months into being Tennessee’s boyfriend, there had been five episodes so far, and the period between nightmares and more nightmares was gradually shortening. And along with that…1efe309b85b80017

Tick-tock…f472ab2bf6fcf35b

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Amber thought 01af1eac8a he heard 9d872999e5 the timer c32333dff5 of a 2ea8b29623 time bomb 1191adda51 rapidly counting e412d92c66 down.49b24fddd9fdf43d

Time flowed on, and the episodes grew more violent. Amber, watching from beside him, felt his blood drying up at the thought that he shouldn’t expect anything from Tennessee above all else. So he chose to keep his mouth shut. No matter what happened, he couldn’t let the situation become one where his suffering lover had to be the one to comfort him.956fc77b84373148

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Frustration ate away at 01379937a9 Amber.6b24a432ea867c20

It was bbd2910657 4 AM. Unable to sleep at 9ad24868c9 all, Amber had just c628bdb6d1 come out to the 0d1f464c31 dining room. He sat d9f99050e4 on the db9c22725f sofa and 9684303cbe turned on b258df2f32 the TV. He watched f57193c1bf only the 0c316f3b58 black automatic 0ebd97359d captions flowing ccf0c71063 across the 904f736d8d screen, keeping 37ea0b948e the sound 13e24670da as low f78fd924a1 as possible. The sight of d33c4fb80a mouths moving with f6c35ab524 no sound looked 02128785ae just like himself. Screaming but no cries 85aef54f05 being heard, struggling for e59159cf90 help but no lifeline 1dcc2ade71 coming down.174c5fdf18477e88

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His chest 8436911ba8 felt tight. Who should he 78585d0a4a talk to? His adoptive parents? Tennessee, who would suffer c73d66e407 the most?bcbe38f25f0792be

“Amber.”ab3fc6a021935d9f

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“Tennessee?”4085b822298115ae

Startled, Amber got 0acac69404 up. Tennessee had somehow 1b60118abf come out into 34086ee05a the hallway. After checking the 8480d8a252 clock, Tennessee asked.b8308aba9798ddbc

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“What are you doing here?”55345af72cba1825

“I can’t sleep.”57160ac874ba4433

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“…Did I wake you again?”283054748df0ff9d

He was f5322dcec5 talking about ae11045a5b the episodes. Besides the episodes, Tennessee d5fe55fda5 often showed symptoms of ccee7f6972 mildnyctophobia¹.3ca55db1b6264fb9

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Shaking his head e4e97ab863 and spreading his 1549557145 arms, Amber embraced 514bdeb112 him fully.339dca0fba8a1984

Haah.6fc8d79c584b81d9

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Only after 5017adb64d holding him 1f6d6c98f5 in his b85ffe9deb arms did bc5899cc0e Amber realize 2c9d7967e6 how cold 21f2425654 his body 30b2d8fcd9 had become, 227eadb016 and he ae5f64b339 exhaled a b766d24358 trembling breath 000342c000 of relief.bacb35d21c89072e

He’s alive. Barely panting, but he’s still breathing.That’s what bc85c3b373 was important 993b1202bd for him. Amber would overcome this 92be02a093 just as he made f107a65887 his way through the 58aa500f3e maze full of tragedy 84f77bbb3a when he was young.d61f7cddcfd39462

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Amber only 56496387ef knew it 3fbb55f758 was reality 553ee948bb when Tennessee f65aed45f3 confirmed his 98e4c69ece affection for 53d6a2f7da him. Everything else 9f2b641d42 was a a449db28b9 nightmare.6986db34d2920434

Unfortunately, they couldn’t always be together. Even though they spent more time together, during times apart, Amber faced rising impulses. It was the same when Tennessee occasionally left home for rehabilitation training.395647568f9219a7

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Because he wasn’t a talkative person, the house was always quiet whether Tennessee was home or not. However, the silence Amber felt worsened when Tennessee wasn’t there. It was as if he was floating alone, without hearing or feeling anything.2c1624c204d667bb

In the silence, Amber 08b191afc9 picked up a knife. At first, f369245079 it was f8b0b1af40 just the 5859bc9492 desire to 24b8ea2b89 make a 2eb7feccca hole in 62bed5f5a8 an increasingly d8e3985a8b inflating balloon. His chest f2fe68961c felt tight. So unbearably tight. The whole world 195fccdda1 seemed filled with 64d78662f2 water, and it b240b0c840 felt like he 8a6cfb56bd was barely surviving, b2e3da87d6 gasping for air 89346f9576 with his nose e0f2153a33 touching the ceiling.ca6232f340c04f14

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I can do everything for you, literally everything possible, so why won’t you lean on me?6e7a7afa7373b611

Sitting askew on the edge of the bathtub, he looked down at his thigh. The already healed wound showed white new flesh. Once he self-harmed, Tennessee would surely find out. Despite his unassuming nature, Tennessee had sensitive and sharp senses. He was someone who immediately detected even the smallest lie… Even while knowing this, Amber couldn’t stop.775d14a5400f6916

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Even Amber himself didn’t know why he self-harmed. For him, there wasn’t a single clear solution, and his surroundings were always uncertain, so he was used to not understanding himself or his environment. In any case, one thing that was clear was that he felt an intense impulse.a50e4652b7654f6b

And just 00b45102f0 as Amber c811e39e70 expected, Tennessee 88d606a2b5 quickly noticed 39867caf69 his unusual 8823600ef4 behavior.b0380556e69a78ff

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“Amber.”ec9a02bb92d33ea2

“Yeah?”da5c471ee3b2b9b2

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Tennessee, who had 5d06200789 been making a 558eb2c32d salad, looked Amber 32116332fd up and down. Water kept pouring, but df32f892b6 Tennessee stopped what he 0906c0cd70 was doing. In the 9ac3fce6b5 silence, only f281743678 the loud e3376583b6 sound of 03f6c0b9de running water 386d1fc9b0 echoed.6ec6db301a675f19

“Take off your 106aabe26d pants.”42488cb16b697f19

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When Amber hesitated, 3ca099c8cf Tennessee turned off b176e0d1e2 the water.abf308310d525f9a

“Let me see.”dab791088fbcd4d3

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“…I.”9f863c3f6a0e63fb

His hesitant a5ea8854be attitude was dd83041861 answer enough. A drop of 806767e05f water fell with e4fd0727d0 aplink. Wiping his fbc1ad40d8 wet hands, abc02e6146 Tennessee placed 5ad46f5a9f the salad 61e298d0c8 bowl on 36466e24b8 the counter.d07874c57ab6b0c5

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“Are you mad?”be9f0daa4d57dd79

Tennessee silently led 56cfa497f8 Amber to the e81c8c4e24 bedroom. His expression 352e905561 was grim, 42f835aa54 but the 415fb427da hand holding f78c24b337 Amber’s had c5ae1e2b93 no strength c8ef816c23 in it.9d6b8ddb96ee2fa7

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Tennessee lifted the e6ef921a15 hem of Amber’s 54d753eb09 boxers, revealing the 19a7cc8f53 flesh of his 112ed7f09b thigh. Fresh scabs, barely 645c722913 dried, marked the 52fbeb0301 skin. Tennessee’s lips pressed into 2105fa296e a tight line. He compared the old, 4272c24c10 faded scars to the 63d3d6dc22 fresh wounds. The recent ones c2e9a369f8 were worse – 25cd685da6 deeper, larger.c0a4f80d3fe95a6f

“…Should we look into counseling?”34f945e06a963169

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At Tennessee’s quiet words, Amber tilted his head slightly.f9dc068acbea9698

“You know I hate that stuff.”fad5ce22f252e5e6

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Before breaking up with Tennessee, not long after reuniting with Hurston, Amber had received counseling. It was good at first. The famous counselor recommended by Elizabeth’s colleague was kind and sometimes offered perspectives Amber hadn’t considered.40ee3173234ab788

But how long did it last? Not long after counseling began, Amber’s discomfort grew increasingly. Whenever Tennessee was mentioned, or when topics about Hurston or memories that constituted his essential parts came up, Amber faced unbearable discomfort. He lied to Elizabeth to skip sessions, even lashed out.faaf1bc8d452d04b

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Following Elizabeth’s suggestion to try different places didn’t work either. After each session, he only blamed himself more. His mind never felt clearer.eb41a4f2f1a29e90

Why won’t someone just 9babfce402 come and tell me c4c8e54d0a the answer? Why do 9ab77c05d4 I feel 56dc952165 like this? Out of all those f4d7a95e69 kids, why me? Why did he 4974647db2 have to do 4194a2111a that?Why can’t I just 5c471403fc fit into a normal c4b0a7a087 life? He’d think about 030b674459 those kinds of 2ca8b297f7 things.6a019de383853140

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It felt like b577281206 someone was rummaging dee3d0a777 through his head, 8fc4143abb prying open a ea58aad8cd box he’d hidden 266de74fbf deep inside. For someone like d967691579 Amber, who struggled c830a1b881 to trust and 8a6c5f2785 always kept his b204a873eb distance, therapy was ba3da3ab1a no different from 1623a43415 drinking juice offered f7429d5308 by a stranger. No one knew 6cdd521f9f if it contained 0b495219fd poison, medicine, or ea77b51e68 if it was 90b95f2690 just ordinary juice. Usually, he 81db85745b would have 468da88684 immediately knocked cf775704c0 the glass 5b29287c14 away.55a55298ff321f8e

Amber pushed Tennessee’s hand away. It was a gentle but firm rejection.b1f19930b7304e5f

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“What about you?”351718e4ec5ceb6d

Tennessee closed his slightly c10f5d43d1 parted lips upon discovering b19772f233 the contradiction in his 63693dc769 words.b9b2fcae0b450ec4

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“You’re struggling too.”baf380e672872c49

“I don’t want to.”0498f6ec566b4c43

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“Then you shouldn’t force me either.”649a1698fbe82bb2

“…Right.”f9a1ca62cfe4b373

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Tennessee’s answer was brief, but they both recognized the uncomfortable emotion behind it.9b3a80e91f5753af

“Don’t say it like that. You could at least try.”b6a5d6b54f343643

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Though it sounded like a plea, the voice couldn’t help but grow louder.f27ca2b419e070fa

“Can’t you make an effort just once? Just for one month even.”e732e24a9ed03463

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“No.”2d692692472d8a1e

That answer 83d3d6a85b came out 9ad937fc7a unnecessarily firmly. He stood his 94e0d5023d ground like a e5a1b40874 wall.d1833646f46f5b11

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“Why?”55e406817f5a1502

Why won’t you do it?8f4249c4f5fcb1ef

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Tennessee began 9545776271 to doubt c1eeb92395 if Amber 6b498477ab was even 3a366ed4a6 thinking before af18e50ed5 speaking. Emotion slowly began eec49b06e3 to frost over 06259d8ecd his voice that 76b44ca111 had been calm 26794d6f34 throughout.a22817a48ab3e629

“Don’t ask about what’s obvious.”fa694f842668ba92

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“How is that obvious? Don’t be like that, just for one month with me-”6c5ac7e023c80e22

“No need to worry about it. About your problems… let’s look for other solutions.”08d3753e57ebe683

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“You don’t need me to worry…?”2f920eed6674f4a7

By now, both Amber dba15e4e22 and Tennessee had risen ba84b8d825 to their feet.8105ed3f35938eaf

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Amber tried 308899b2fc to lower 20137eba60 his voice, fcb6ed4318 but it c70357dba0 wasn’t working. Even as he 313844cb03 lost his composure, 1fc9ad1343 Tennessee’s expression remained 088d978553 eerily unchanged. To Amber, f4c9c89dc3 that calmness 8bff7cbb14 felt inhuman. Emotions were 784cfdffa1 natural, yet bfdd8843b7 Tennessee seemed 1fb65de49b determined to c64ebd0ce0 strip them c6f0cc9b5e away, as 1483127400 if he b98a5808e2 believed they’d 7da7b468ba boomerang back 11c4351eca and stab faaa48b64e him in 09d79b1565 the throat.3c8e4e095f0b6bd8

“If you were me, would you just trust me and leave it be? With the mindset of ‘he’ll figure it out on his own’ or something?”e68c232b1ad58db3

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“I wasn’t telling you to ignore it.”b8887a7246cb2432

Amber struggled 7b2af29021 to keep edc9e44be3 his voice 3034bd0ccb steady. But Tennessee kept d40ac3ef51 pulling his anger 0fee55a7b8 out, whether he fe2b0d902c meant to or c757395483 not.2c6ccec3e130e421

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“If it’s getting too much, it might be good to go back to Michigan for a while. I’ll give you the key to this house…”fbc97adc91cc7e64

Amber bit his 5de0f72dc8 lip, forcing back b8b1da5c79 the surge of 19f1ed02aa emotion. After a deep 32d33878f8 breath, he managed 05358744e7 to speak evenly.c4004b3603f04027

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“Is there no option for us to solve problems together in your mind?”6d0f2f706900a436

The shadow b7c268131f of past e168c1813b frustrations grew 634cafa719 larger. Something enormous, vast enough 911043d757 to cover the plains, 29b830a31b rose up. A monster. One Amber aeaf6cd76d had faced a4599f191f before.9f6d98d598b75309

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“Is that how you’ve always handled problems? Passing them off and abandoning them? Believing they’ll come back fine once they’re out of sight for a while?”7eb8033715d21733

“I said it for your-”044b032ae94e9291

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“Tennessee.”3431eaf940ab0d9d

Amber called 30c34dfaa5 out to e63304053b him, drawing 50f4ebc82d on  his 4ba99197ce maximum patience.65293c48b9f26ce2

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“Have you ever thought about fixing me?”6d0e763791a77006

Even as b6e1c28cc9 frustration and 4a49e2a606 bitterness swirled 6584733ab5 inside him, 13041013d3 Amber fought 6059e1088e to stay 1b735517d2 composed. He couldn’t ba1ff8386a demand emotions cd0b3cb184 and solutions 1b2dac8502 from Tennessee c62536d56f unilaterally.c82333c49aed7d9d

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“If you think I’m broken, did you ever once think about fixing me? You haven’t, right? Because you’ve always postponed it… Always leaving me with Megan, with Elizabeth and David, always just leaving me with someone. Whenever there’s a problem, you pass it off somewhere, and when I return temporarily patched up, you use me until I break again.”6b9cf7a73ee5789b

For the first time, Tennessee’s face lost its composure.5384ff343cb8e445

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“Do you have to talk like that? That was the best choice at the time.”4c4cb77308c1a11c

“…The best? Was it for me too?”ea8e7462a4026e42

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“Fix you?”f164852580585a04

Tennessee’s voice rose. Amber had a5f5805665 never seen 23117f3005 him lose caa4452ca5 composure before, 874b4ddf00 but he 04f1a2d606 wasn’t scared 91bd0393f5 at all.629f405bca9eff13

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“Look at me! Look how broken I b240d425a4 am every night! Do you think 1dab3529f5 I have the b39e4fc092 luxury to fix ac4fa11847 anyone?!”becaec29caf25d7b

Tennessee didn’t understand Amber’s anger. It was Tennessee’s own way of being considerate. At least he thought Amber might be less hurt if he didn’t have to see him in this state.7505a03fdbc51d70

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In the early 27f97e6920 hours of dawn, 82bbeabdc3 when he woke 2f36bdfa76 up to the 78a93ed76a sound of his ad10a200db own unconscious whimpers, 248926194c Amber had an 19509d3df3 expression as calm 8002ff2811 and gentle as 36607419fc the night sky. Even though e1af913530 the corners 4059f2acbf of his 5c9d57fef4 mouth twisted bb0f89b7cb as if 480bc9fb28 he might 41e6b2983f collapse at 1f0b11895f any moment, e2bde2e27b there was 88d7bb3589 still a bc9cede694 visible effort b39bc9587c to remain 017081fdc4 steadfast, like 2370a8340a an unshakable 18e99e25f9 pillar.8af129e95ba5d88a

That’s why, paradoxically, Tennessee feared every day. Feared that someday Amber would look at him with an obviously tired face and smile, that he would lean against him for warmth while murmuring that it’s okay, then let out a weary sigh. Afraid he would get tired. And if he grew tired enough, one day…e7940fcf9f651851

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Tennessee had never db09af408a felt such guilt f47c3565c1 and sense of 2b6a5e56e4 debt before.353402dc00ecbd7e

How could he lean 7d8f5485e8 on him while making ed8f0a2ecf him bear such a 400473953e burden?d6be87830cc379a2

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Tennessee quickly regained cd43410a89 his rationality. His rough voice became c46033028c calm after a few 2250c15899 deep breaths.3398bf44d656b190

“Go back to Michigan for a while. Taking a break at home would be better than here anyway.”abcc2e95072d7de1

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“Please!”6e820f0e93e700ee

Amber was 30226e1a7e so frustrated 2065d1d1e6 he could a821f8482b barely breathe.a221518714455489

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“Stop sending me away! Stop throwing me away like luggage somewhere!”75335c23c54e47d3

“You think I’m sending you away without feeling anything?”87263502d987383f

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Amber tried to understand Tennessee’s embarrassment and pride. However, Amber knew what lay beneath, beyond the mirror, below the rippling surface.848d5ecda0d2b996

“Amber, I’m trying too, but-”efde86bc72fa2d31

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“Trying? You’re not trying at all. Not even a little bit.”2de816e98274ca66

He knew 420a53889e he could 4b8119e3f5 never fully 27c4813dad understand him. It was presumptuous, but 75f9d128f5 Amber couldn’t stop. The truth 96b8e3ac81 he’d been 3359465a67 watching all 5b3d2f62ae along but 412f8f23d1 never dared fae3791f68 to pull 29b14f549f out now daba7c31a1 took shape.74628da61622e4b4

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“You think you don’t deserve to be happy.”7960c476f73eb3ef

Tennessee believed d61d4b15d4 he didn’t. That he’d committed sins 4ded20de69 too great, that even ef99afa4ab repentance was beyond his 8862d86f40 reach. That’s why 81c0f0f630 he wanted 9858a26aa4 to run 6c7e4aec0e away.cf48f24fef07bf72

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Tennessee roughly rubbed his 1583a12f47 forehead.a08a8acbafb3366b

“I know you’re not some hero or saint. If necessary, you’d kill without hesitation… But why are you so cruel to yourself?”d0324215873f77a4

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“Don’t talk nonsense.”9e0a7fc3d7128d3d

“If brushing it off makes you feel better, go ahead. You’ve always run away anyway.”1d6e0115d4fc2ed9

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Amber didn’t hold his tongue.e7e8c9ee8bf4c740

“Run, run, run. That’s how it’s always been.”c6f68138fa82a5e1

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“Watch your mouth.”0579670ebcaf2da9

“Refute it if I’m wrong.”1129549529c0841e

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Tennessee opened his ce335622f4 lips to spit f7734e19c7 out harsh words. And when e0ebe8f889 the voice 256c038330 rose to 7776e25e2a his throat-b6889a03fa237eea

“…”3a273ec65e2df5de

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Tennessee couldn’t speak.6a926b23d8c3f24c

Before meeting d42ba2e774 Amber, Tennessee’s 5c48a7d5de standards for af118a8f3c life had 1784154b66 always been df7008ecb6 subjective. He judged himself ae0429c7a5 only to the 1ea4a58021 extent that it e23038d4bc didn’t drive him 2d57fef544 to ruin. But after meeting 6ccfe938e6 Amber, those flexible 5a5e172ae9 standards abruptly became 5452ea44d6 rigid, leaving no 2df11edd86 room for error. The gap 3f72dade44 between how 468daedfbe Amber saw ab2570ebad him and bfd38ffd05 how he 03b1f641c8 saw himself f4e88a9bef widened, growing b0f957d8ed more unbearable c04c902800 by the f226caf583 day.3928890f558789ac

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“You’ve spent your whole life running, but when it really mattered, you couldn’t. You’re a coward who couldn’t even run, so instead, you drowned in guilt. You always find excuses. I’ve never met a liar as cruel as you.”0b15d400eb63b9a9

Despite the sharp words, Amber’s tone was surprisingly calm. Tennessee sensed that he had been waiting for this moment, the moment to lay bare all this humiliation and shame before him. It was a dead end.f7de057e4b1904e1

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“Damn it, this is because of you.”d63a8ed4373ef961

Tennessee finally spat out as if chewing the words. Even while directly hearing Tennessee’s resentment, Amber wasn’t hurt at all. The reason Tennessee resented him wasn’t because he did something wrong, but because he made him acknowledge the truth.550f0a0c56cf5717

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“I’ve never been like this before. Never had such stupid thoughts before! I knew I was a bad person, but I’ve never hated myself this much. Understand? I wasn’t like this even when I was young.”0be2b9e164a8f43f

Tennessee had 02b81d5656 been through d7a2e4bd27 a lot. He’d experienced all kinds b82b310668 of things, yet only 4e32299c9b allowed himself to feel 023c3ca5a2 emotions within strict limits. His life 1f0a7e069e had always ba6e0fdb66 been controlled. But suddenly, hearing the bf14fd2b8e sound of a young 5c6aa1aadc Amber running toward him, c9f7f81997 seeing that mischievous grin d133318613 and wind-tousled black hair… af0c4a7c8e something stirred inside him.65a6b270eda38303

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Guilt.3e1e82c2da36ffa7

He’d never bf4a88aad1 been happy, 60cd1753f6 so he 18f3400b28 never had 5d056fe965 to think 7518822fde about happiness.44c459dd909801f4

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“Is that why you’re struggling so much?”d7a079ecc7dc8daf

At Amber’s question, Tennessee firmly shook his head. Then he anxiously rubbed his forehead and sighed. Amber waited patiently.33890a5fbf0b0a86

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And after e478fc06a5 a few 7f3461ea7e minutes had 8866cefec1 passed. Finally, he nodded 34590f023d faintly.720516606260e90c

“Yes.”e3ea8dc18e7e977e

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“Did it hurt more the happier you were with me? Because you felt you didn’t deserve it?”d4ed7ee1485d0cdd

“…Yes.”573ae9d26df6935a

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“…Do I make you unhappy?”d8660dfb284e6a0b

“…No.”6a03801e583a909d

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He had 76beb17fb3 only wanted de4342baed to become 18f0dd550e completely together. Even if he wasn’t 5b043e6d2e allowed to be.2427aa14a8ad9dda

He remembered the posters, e3445bf4b1 brochures, and books that 0a98991bca Amber had brought when df6b5247dd he confessed wanting to cbd5ac6e71 make him disabled. What struggles 77bdb226cc must Amber 2ab5cfb2ea have had cfa8e127d2 to resist?af8803979deec8ab

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“There are no requirements needed to be able to be happy, Tennessee.”3bc4ece084df4f2a

“Look at me. I’m a good example of someone not qualified.”81e6634d38dd8bf0

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If Amber’s 2a24799d44 frustration came 0d5a7fe65c from deep-rooted e16ce322b5 helplessness, Tennessee’s 97c9b506c5 came from 7bb0a3e225 deep-rooted guilt. It wasn’t 4ebf5ec690 something that 278737505d could be 770df02cfc magically fixed 3df962891e in an 6db7d9df89 instant. But Amber didn’t 58f61c9bb8 give up easily.3c4f8adc37742d2b

As much c56220a639 as his 44992b0e74 life had ad091afab5 been a 96fb95a2f2 series of 32da7f07b6 misfortunes, it 1e9bfc89a4 was also 8b7343e0a9 a series 8a86852fc4 of challenges 3b7574b149 against those 59da258576 misfortunes.0b26eeccecd0fe28

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“Then, do I deserve it?”69c1235f07fdfc04

Tennessee nodded to Amber, who was placing a hand on his chest. He didn’t know who was given the right to happiness, but Tennessee believed that Amber, more than anyone else, had the right to be happy.c1b72dbcbe8ffd5c

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“If you have sins, can’t I take them away?”3efb104d859bbfb8

“…Amber.”816ec47091f5f21f

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“I’ll become a better person. I’ll try harder. Can’t we be happy together?”6d1c43ea7f928d2e

Amber spoke in a 7ec882f103 low, sunken voice.45818ce890634f79

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“Don’t worry about my pain. I’m not a child. I won’t crumble if you lean on me.”0d73f3cd8cd2b93b

And like approaching a wild beast, Amber carefully reached out. When Tennessee didn’t avoid it, Amber’s fingertips, palm, and soon his entire body made contact. It was an embrace where souls intertwined. Tennessee closed his eyes.4620dfddb5e41ae3

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I want 7e34a84f46 to live.b5a4c7052958fd1b

Tennessee thought.262aec7a29358fe7

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Even if he was a being who couldn’t be proud before God, he wanted to live properly. He wanted to live the life he hadn’t dared to hope for.a54a77bd858b06d5

“If you’re going to be in pain, be in pain in front of me. Please accept me. I’m not a child anymore.”618ef1183eb5b88e

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Given the sheer audacity 68655a101d of Amber’s scolding today, 332ae1db8e Tennessee thought wryly that a254d19b10 no, he definitely wasn’t a8f350b4d8 a child. For a moment, the 77063c87b8 words had irritated him. but they didn’t hurt.198b9e4573f96f07

The final, thin yet 024c26fa7f dark veil finally tore, f7e655a011 and bright sunlight poured 036114a412 through the broken shell.92789e847887bcbd

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“…Yeah, you’re right.”03d15d26dc53a2ed

Tennessee finally admitted 248ea842a2 that he seemed 81c4ec22f5 just as awkward e87bedd325 with relationships as 0f84b6b5a0 Amber was unfamiliar 49ccf8d552 with being a b807fe46fe lover. He was right. Instead of 00091803d8 sending him eaba7a8775 away to 5ef99b490a Michigan like 455f50d620 he’d been 89dcdc4883 waiting to 60ca2da23c do, they 90ad6059f3 had to b60c4eae73 find a 66b619f79d way forward ba2af6824a together.1b84ddbd2b50787a

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“Apologize to me.”bda5568d0dacb3b1

“…I’m sorry.”e8ca8ed8d07e2520

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“I accept your apology.”39a584392c928a42

But Amber warned in a low voice that if he tried to send him to Michigan again, he didn’t know what he would do. Tennessee let out a hoarse laugh. Nevertheless, he nodded firmly.dcd3018491d1bf12

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