Please Don’t Leave Me

Prologue

LOUISA

“I need to tell you about the time I tried to kill myself,” I say in a hushed and embarrassed tone, knowing full well he knows nothing of what I'm about to tell him. This conversation has been weighing heavy on my mind for months now, but I need to tell him. No more waiting.

I'm holding my breath for what seems like minutes, waiting for him to respond. In reality, it's probably only been a couple of seconds.

He sits up a little straighter. “Okay.”

He pauses, waiting for me to continue. But I can't seem to get the words out.

"You don't have to if you don't want to," he reassures me.

My body heats like a furnace, and I can feel the sweat running down my sides. The baggy sweatshirt I’m wearing does nothing to soak it up.

"Well, I don't particularly want to, but I think it's important for you to fully know what you're getting into with me.

"I'm all ears, Lou. "

I take a deep breath that almost makes my lungs explode and let it back out. Lifting my glass to my lips, I take a sip of my drink, letting it burn on my tongue for a moment before swallowing.

I start at the beginning...