Happy To Help

Bryce couldn't even imagine what that was like. He still had pictures of his grandma at his house but Tessa didn't have ANYTHING to remember everyone she loved and lost by. Nothing that wasn't currently in her apartment anyway, like her Christmas gifts from them.

"I'm so sorry, Tessa," he said lamely, not knowing what else to say.

She didn't say anything for several minutes but when she spoke again it was the most personal information she had ever shared with him. "I told you things were supposed to go back to normal after this…I really thought they would. Last year was the worst year of my life and I was dealing with it all by myself when I met you.

"A lot of things happened but it all started back in January. I got shot by a mugger and ended up in physical therapy for months to get full use of my arm back. If I hadn't moved exactly when and where I did, the doctor said he could have hit my heart and I would have died.