Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Perhaps because he had shared his own family story so openly , I found myself willing to speak .

My mother passed away , I said hesitantly .

And my father , like yours , severed ties with me .

That year , at my mothers funeral , a sea of black clad mourners filled the hall .

The officiant delivered a lengthy eulogy , but my mind drifted halfway through .

I remember looking at my mothers photograph her gentle smile seeming to reach out to me and I smiled back .

The next instant, my fathers hand struck me to the ground .

Your mother is dead ! he roared .

How dare you smile ? Every eye in the room turned to me as if I were some kind of monster .

Terror gripped me .

Tears welled in my eyes , but I bit my lip , not daring to make a sound .

The first year after her death , my father would sit in the living room at night , poring over her letters and photographs .

By the second year , he had packed her belongings into boxes and pushed them into a forgotten corner .

By the third year , he had remarried .

My new stepmother dragged the boxes into the yard , declaring she would burn them all .

I desperately salvaged what I could from the pile , clutching my mothers camera to my chest .

The flames left their mark on my skin .

That camera became all I had left of her .

Later , my half sister was born .

The familys attention shifted entirely to her .

I grew up like a shadow , turning eighteen without anyone noticing .

I enrolled in medical school .

On move in day , my father handed me a thick envelope .

Youre an adult now , he said .

Dont come back .

I nodded and counted it thirty thousand dollars .

The price of severing our blood ties .

At university , professors and classmates praised my aptitude for medicine , noting how I remained composed in any situation .

When I began practicing , this became my trademark strength .

I let out a small sigh .

These memories , buried so deep , had never been shared before .

Josephs brow furrowed , the usual hint of mischief vanishing from his expression .

His voice carried 17:43 Backup Girl No More : Adios To My V Card and My First Love 22.70 Chapter 10 an unusual gravity .

Zoey , dont you realize ? You were only five years old .

I froze .

What ? Laughing and crying are a childs birthright , he said softly .

Youve been holding yourself back because no one ever let you be a child .

His gentle words hit me like lightning .

After the funeral , my father had stopped speaking to me .

When my sister arrived , my needs were always secondary .

Through college , I juggled studies with survival .

Thinking back , I couldnt recall a single moment when Id been allowed to simply be a child .

I lowered my head .

Maybe so … but Im grown now .

I cant act like a child anymore .

To laugh when I want , cry when I want … Before I could finish , a sudden jolt shot through my ribs , like a spark of electricity .

I yelped in surprise and spun around .

Joseph had poked my side , wearing an impish grin .

Says who ? I tried to dodge , but he caught me .

It was as if hed found some hidden switch I couldnt stop giggling , no matter how hard I tried to maintain composure .

The laughter burst out of me like air from a balloon .

Stop ! No more ! It tickles ! Hahaha … please ! I struggled to escape but found myself cornered .

Tears of laughter streamed down my face .

Have mercy , Dr.

Joseph ! Let me go ! He flashed a mischievous smile and reached out again .

I curled into a defensive ball , bracing myself , but the expected tickle didnt come .

Cautiously peeking up , I saw his open palm extended toward me .

In it lay a piece of candy .

Heres a treat for the little one , he said with a gentle smile .

I stared at him , speechless.Unwrapping the candy , I popped it in my mouth .

It wasnt particularly good artificial fruit flavor , overly sweet .

But it made my eyes burn .

Joseph crouched down , pulled me to my feet , and wrapped me in his arms .

17.12 Backun Girl No More : Adios To My V Card and My First Love 22.9 % Chapter 10 Go ahead and cry , he whispered .

Its alright .

I know it hurts .

The warmth and strength of his embrace crumbled my final defenses .

How long had it been since I felt understood , cherished ? So long that Id convinced myself I didnt deserve it .

Yet here , in a distant land across the world , he comforted me with a piece of candy , as if I were still that little girl .

In that moment , the tears Id held back since I was five years old finally broke free , twenty years of pain pouring out at once .

He kept patting my back gently , letting his shirt absorb my tears .

At some point Im not sure when I cried myself to sleep in his arms .

From then , Joseph and I began dating ..

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