The Unexpected Visitor

Joanne scoffed, snapping herself out of her thoughts.

Even from the very start, he had made her feel ashamed.

Of course, as she grew older, she knew it wasn't his fault—not at first. She was the one who had looked down on herself.

But later…

Later, it had been his fault.

Later, he had made her feel small.

She's pretty bland… He sneered. His sneering voice still echoed in her mind.

She was glad she hadn't let his family strip her of her pride. Glad she had gotten out when she did.

He had run away, but even if he hadn't, she would have ended things anyway.

So why…

Why did it hurt when she thought about the day she met him?

-

JD stared into the distance, his thoughts tangled like the branches of the oak trees standing tall behind them. They looked eerily similar to the ones in his dreams.