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REACHING OUT

BY TIMA

CHAPTER

68






PREVIOUSLY: Tea: I wasn't suggesting anything intimate. That's the last thing I want right now.

Todd: Especially with me.

[Todd picks Tea up in his arms and returns her to the bed. Before she can respond to his last statement, he leaves the room.]

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chapter 68:

[Minutes later...

Todd returns to their bedroom with Tea's wheelchair.]

Tea: Todd, I didn't mean what I said.

Todd: Sure you did.

Tea: Not the way you think I did.

Todd: When a chick tells me enough times that she doesn't want to do anything with me, eventually I figure things out.

Tea: It isn't that I don't want to be intimate with you.

Todd: That's exactly what it is.

Tea: You're wrong.

Todd: You hardly even want to kiss me anymore. You used to want that all the time.

Tea: In the past, there were many times when you were the one who didn't want that, and I understood. I need you to understand now.

Todd: It wasn't that I didn't want it...not really. Everything was just so screwed up inside me back then.

Tea: Then you should be able to understand that this isn't personal. It isn't you. I just can't do this right now with anyone, not even you.

Todd: This isn't about you being a paraplegic. Whatever's going on down below didn't screw up your lips. I know those still work.

Tea: This is about more than physical paralysis. I'm not ready to feel that way. I'm not ready to enjoy myself. It feels disrespectful just being with you, because you make me so happy.

Todd: I make you so happy, you try to hurt yourself getting away from me.

Tea: I told you, the only thing I hurt falling off the bed was my ego. I'm fine.

Todd: Why do you hate being around me now?

Tea: I just told you...

Todd: You've been telling me the whole time I've been here to go away. You threw yourself out of the bed just now trying to get away from me.

Tea: It isn't you.

Todd: You keep saying that but who the fuck is it if it isn't me? I'm the only one here.

Tea: No, you're not. My grandmother is here. Tomas is here. Just like your father is always with us.

Todd: Leave my father out of this.

Tea: Can you honestly tell me that your past doesn't haunt you anymore? Can you promise that you won't need to distance yourself from me ever again because of pain I didn't cause?

Todd: I can promise you anything you want. It's all just words.

Tea: I need your promises to be genuine this time.

Todd: I promise I don't want to talk anymore.

Tea: I think a little time alone would be good for both of us.

Todd: Now that we're finally alone again, what do you want to do, besides talk?

Tea: I meant that we should spend time apart.

Todd: We did that. It sucked!

Tea: I'm not suggesting another divorce.

Todd: We'd have to get married to get divorced.

Tea: When are you going to finally let me know if we're still married?

Todd: Someday.

Tea: You're a frustrating man, Todd Manning.

Todd: You're a frustrating chick, Tea Delgado Manning Manning. I like it that way.

Tea: You do?

Todd: You're never boring.

Tea: Never? Not even when I'm sleeping?

Todd: That's the only time I get to watch you when I don't have to put up with all this talking. Why would that be boring?

Tea: Most people don't find watching me sleep to be as fascinating as you do.

Todd: They're stupid. I don't care. All I care about is that I get to be the one who watches you.

Tea: If I promise that we'll spend time together after, would it hurt your feelings if I need a little time apart right now?

Todd: You shouldn't let your nightmares have so much power over you.

Tea: You're speaking from experience?

Todd: My nightmares kept me away from you. I'll never let that happen again.

Tea: I want to be with you, but...

Todd: It's okay for you to like being with me.

Tea: I do like being with you. I just need some time to think.

Todd: Go ahead.

Tea: It's hard for me to think when you're staring at me.

Todd: I won't stare.

Tea: Just a few minutes alone?

Todd: I could go get us something to eat.

Tea: That would be great.

Todd: You'll still be here when I get back?

Tea: I'll be here and we'll have a romantic meal together.

Todd: Romantic? That means touching, right?

Tea: We'll discuss...

Todd: Not talking...touching.

Tea: I'll try.

Todd: So will I. From now on you're going to see a guy trying to do whatever the hell he can to make you happy. That I promise.

[Todd leaves their new home, feeling more optimistic than he has in a long time, despite the continued struggle he knows he'll face helping Tea through her guilt and depression.]

to be continued...

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2004 COPYRIGHT BY TIMA





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