Hide and Seek by Cally Larson
~Chapter Thirteen~
His string had snapped right before lunch.
Darren had brought him a sandwich to eat-
And they sat in the middle of the stage by themselves.
Daniel’s breathing was even as he concentrated.
Nimble fingers looped the string past the fret, around the peg.
Darren watched with fascination beside him, sipping his ice water.
“Do you want some?” Daniel put his repaired guitar away and picked up the sandwich.
Darren shook his head, raising his water glass.
Daniel frowned, breaking a little corner off, “Please eat a little baby.” He whispered, offering it up.
Darren obediently took it.
They ate in silence.
“Why don’t you stay with me tonight?” Daniel put his arms around Darren’s shoulders, moving to kiss his forehead, “I don’t want you to be alone.”
Daniel had seen the patch of blood on Darren’s shirt sleeve earlier that morning.
Darren nodded passively, he was distracted by something.
Band members filing back in from break.
“I think we’re ready for showtime tomorrow.” Leonie looked pleased.
Rehearsal was done by five- Ben quickly advertising a nice bar romp for the night.
As tempting as it sounded, Daniel declined, taking Darren’s hand without another thought.
“Come on Dazza.” He whispered in the singer’s ear, “Let’s go.”
Ben was not going to let that slide without a comment.
Darren turned crimson and started to shake a little.
All attention had been drawn to the two standing backstage.
Daniel tactfully shook his head and flicked Ben off, leading Darren away from his inquiring friends.
“Been banging around at Dar’s place eh Dan?”
Darren disappeared behind Daniel’s lanky form.
Daniel set his jaw, knowing Ben was pushing the envelope, “Please.” His tone was warning, “Just stop it okay?”
Ben got the hint right away, especially when he saw Darren’s tears.
“Hey- no long face there.” Leonie tried to give him a hug, but Darren jumped, clearly upset.
Daniel gave his friends a sad look before pulling Darren against him, leading him out to the car.
“I’m not ashamed of us Jonesy.” Darren wiped hurriedly at his eyes.
“I know you’re not Darren.” Daniel sighed, frustrated at the whole mess.
The rest of the drive was quiet.
“Hey.” Daniel stopped in the middle of his doorway before they entered the apartment; “You know I love you right?”
Darren nodded, accepting the open arms.
“Let me see it.” Daniel whispered, pushing Darren’s sleeve up to his elbow, “Oh Dazza.”
Darren’s sad eyes matched Daniel’s.
“Were you afraid of something today, Darren?” Daniel led him to the bathroom, finding some gauze, a long bandage.
Darren was very quiet, shivering, “I had a bad night.”
“Nightmares?” Daniel kissed him lightly, “That’s why you’re staying with me tonight-”
“So I can’t hurt myself.” Darren knew the reasoning and he sighed sadly.
Daniel bit his lip, wrapping the wound carefully, “I don’t know if you need stitches or not Dar- it looks pretty deep.”
Darren winced in pain.
“I know it hurts.” Daniel pulled him into an embrace, hoping a few tender kisses would ease things.
“What would you like for dinner?” He suggested a little later.
Darren shivered again, “Some... soup?”
Daniel nodded, that always went down easiest, “Why don’t you lie down for a little bit.”
Another kiss, and then Darren was left alone in the bathroom with the razors and scissors calling his name.
He couldn’t resist them.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
White walls.
White bed sheets.
White and sterile.
Like it always was.
He sat huddled in a little ball on the edge of the bed.
The clipboard came down, “He can go home soon.”
Daniel only nodded at the doctor, tired, a nervous wreck-
He could have bled to death.
Daniel shuddered; there was still all that blood on the floor.
So much blood...
It wasn’t a suicide attempt.
Daniel knew it was just fear, depression.
“Hey you.” He whispered, lowering down at the bedside.
Darren looked away from him, thoroughly ashamed.
“Shhh.” Daniel didn’t make Darren face him.
He just stroked his forehead and told him how much he was loved.
It was coming up for dawn by the time Daniel got Darren home.
And now he was crying, and could not stop until he was sick.
“I love you so much Darren.” Daniel was misty-eyed himself, “Please believe me.”
Darren lay in his arms, shuddering.
“I’m canceling the concert tonight.” Daniel pulled the blanket over both of them, “I- I don’t think you should-.”
“We have to play the venue.” Darren croaked, forcing himself to sit up, tear tracks were still present in the moonlight.
“No Darren.” Daniel commanded his voice to stay steady and authoritative.
“Then people will know.”
“That you cut yourself?” Daniel closed his eyes sighing, “You need to rest- you lost a lot of blood tonight-“
“I didn’t mean to!” Darren’s voice rose with the color in his cheeks, “It- it slipped- I never meant to cut that deep- I was just... trying to make it... even-“
He couldn’t stop them now.
Not anymore.
“Darren please don’t talk like this.” Daniel was in tears.
Things were very quiet now.
Daniel cried to himself for a while.
Darren sat perfectly still beside him, his face expressionless.
“It’s late.” Daniel finally murmured, “You need to sleep.”
Darren nodded mutely, not rejecting Daniel’s strong arms around his ever-shrinking waist.
“Daniel?” Darren whispered several minutes later.
Daniel was wide awake and he turned Darren to face him, “What is it baby?”
“I love you.”
Daniel’s mouth turned into a small grin, “That’s why we’ll get through this.”
Gentle kisses until the need for sleep became too overbearing.
And they slept.
“It will come out.” Daniel whispered the next morning as they stood in the shower together.
Darren stared sadly at the striking red against the white tiles.
“I’m sorry Jonesy.” He sighed, laying his head on Daniel’s shoulder.
Daniel lowered them both to the bottom of the tub, the water falling like rain upon them.
“We can pretend we’re kissing in the rain.” Daniel tried to smile, “Like in those movies.”
Darren picked his head up and smiled slightly, “How do you make everything right, when it needs to be?”
Daniel answered with a kiss and a firm hug, “I just try to love you- the best way I know how.”
Darren nodded, looping his arms around Daniel’s neck, and he closed his eyes...
“Still want to do the concert tonight, huh baby?” Daniel cleaned his dirty plate in the sink.
Darren stared blankly at the two eggs on his plate, “I- I think we’re ready.”
Daniel put his hands on Darren’s shoulders, “But are you up to it?”
Darren sighed, “I have to be.”
“No.” Daniel pulled a chair up to sit close to him, “You don’t have to be. No one expects anything of you.”
“Why?” Darren looked up at him, his eyes threatening tears, “Because I’m a mental wreck?”
“Don’t say that Dar.”
Darren sighed sadly, the burst of energy dissipating immediately.
Daniel bit his lip, “Don’t want your eggs? I made them sunny-side-up.”
“It’s cloudy out Jonesy.” Darren whispered, beginning to shiver again.
“Please eat them.” Daniel was starting to sound desperate, running his calloused fingers over a bony wrist.
Darren lifted his eyes out to the window, “I’m so tired...”
“I know. I know.” Daniel pushed the glass of water towards his partner.
Darren eventually did eat an egg and finished the cup.
He slept the rest of the day until showtime.
Nothing was wrong with the performance.
No one saw the stitches and thick bandage around his left arm.
Daniel took Darren back to his apartment immediately after the show.
He never wanted Darren to be alone.
It was too painful, too risky.
Darren’s entertainment mask had been left at the theater.
He sat with a stony look on his face, entirely drained.
“It was wonderful tonight.” Daniel whispered, brushing his lips with a kiss.
Darren nodded, trying to find something to be displeased with, “I was flat. On one of the songs-.”
“I didn’t hear it.” Daniel countered quickly, “No one did.”
Darren sighed, gathering his grandmother’s quilt from the end of the couch, “Why did you bring me back here Daniel?”
Daniel sighed and pulled him into an embrace, “Do I really have to explain why Darren?”
“No.” Darren nuzzled against his neck, trying to forget everything.
Despite the circumstances, the pair enjoyed these times together.
Where they could just sit and hold each other up.
That was when nothing mattered.
And the world didn’t exist anymore.
~Chapter Fourteen~
I found him after the show.
He had somehow managed to sneak out from all the buzz backstage and hide in my dressing room.
No one could bother him that way.
“Hey.” I whispered in his ear, squatting down painfully next to him on the floor.
I didn’t think I was getting that old.
Darren sighed sadly, he had been crying.
A lot.
“Were you scared tonight Dar? Of the people?”
He shook his head, shivering.
I bit my lip, rubbing at his arm, “They loved you out there Darren-.”
“They love the image of me.” He shuddered at his own thought, “They only love the mask.”
I couldn’t argue with him, because no one in public ever saw this.
A broken man in tears because-
Because of something I had yet to figure out.
“I feel...” Darren closed his eyes, leaning against me, “I feel myself falling Daniel.” His voice cracked, “I’m going to crash soon.”
“No.” I said sternly, scared of the symbolism behind that, “You’re going to make it through this Dazza- you’re going to fight this like I know you can.”
“You shouldn’t believe in me.” He whispered, “I’ll let you down.”
“Stop it.” I shook him a little, “Stop beating yourself up- if this is all because you switched the lyrics in one bloody song- there’s no reason for you to be this upset-.”
“It’s not about the goddamn concert Daniel!” He struggled out of my arms, anger in his eyes, “You just don’t get it, do you?”
I sighed, “No Darren- I don’t get it.” I looked over at him, “And I don’t think you do either.”
Darren took in a breath, held it, “I want to be by myself tonight. I want to be alone.”
I knew all too well where that would lead.
He did too and gave up quickly when I protested.
“You don’t trust me.” His eyes shimmered for a moment, “Do you Daniel?”
“Darren- I just want you okay. I don’t trust you alone- because that’s when you start thinking about things too much.” I sighed, “That’s when you hurt yourself.”
“You’d do the same.”
I barely caught his words, “Do the same if what Darren? If something happened to me? Like it did to you?”
He nodded passively, but he wasn’t going to reveal any hidden secrets.
I sat back and watched him focus on the floor, lost in his little world again.
“You weren’t like this before you went to New York.” I stood up and thought aloud, watching his every movement.
Darren didn’t even seem to have heard me.
“You weren’t this bad when you and Colby divorced.” He flinched, “...But then you left to be by yourself- and that’s when everything fell apart.”
He looked up at me as if I were an idiot, “You’re a smart one, aren’t you Daniel?”
Ignoring his sarcasm I tried to put two and two together.
Only problem was that I was missing the first number and no rules applied anymore.
“You met someone there. I remember you told me.” I studied his expressionless face, “Did that person... did they-“
“NO!” Darren screeched, jumping up and fleeing out the door before I could even say anything else.
Confused and alarmed, I ran after him, catching up quickly and tackling him to the ground, despite the fact that it was in front of many of the band and crew.
“Danny please!” He was hysterical as I pinned him to the ground, trying to calm him.
I snarled at people to step back and mind their own business.
“Darren, tell me!” I cried, tears in my own eyes, “Tell me what happened!”
He wasn’t about to tell me in private, why on Earth would he say a word with everyone staring at him?
More struggling and tears.
When he couldn’t breathe any more or cry any harder he finally just passed out in my arms.
“Jesus Christ.” I muttered, pulling him into an embrace.
I leaned down and kissed him, with everyone there.
Who the hell cared anymore?
“I’m taking him home.” I announced, not a bit ashamed for kissing the man I loved.
No one stood in my way as I carried the limp form of my partner through the hallway to my car.
I drove home angry.
Not at Darren.
Never at Darren.
I was angry at the whole situation, at myself for not being smart enough to figure out what was going on.
Darren woke up in the warmth of my bed.
He started to panic and tried to get away, but I held him tight and told him to hush.
The bathwater seemed to calm him, like it always did.
I gave him some wine, an aspirin, and told him to sleep.
That’s when I had the time to have a nice long smoke out on the balcony and curse the moon for looking so beautiful.
It should’ve been crying, hurting.
Like my partner was.
“You know.” I said casually to a firefly that landed on the ledge next to my hand, “Life really sucks sometimes.”
“Yeah.” His backside glowed, “It does. But you deal with it and go on.”
I laughed, watching the bug fly away.
“Maybe I’m the one going crazy.” I muttered, dashing the end of the spent cigarette on the metal guardrail.
The phone screamed and I shut the screen door, anger coming back.
I knew who it was going to be.
“Yes- he’s fine- it’s late- I need to go to bed.”
“The hell you’re going to bed. Tell me what the fuck that was all about-”
“It’s none of your business!”
“Well what would you like me to tell the reporter that just happened to be backstage when you two had that little spat?”
“Fucking hell.” I sunk into the kitchen chair, turning white, “I’m sure it’ll be all over the tabloids tomorrow.”
“Try the morning paper.” Leonie was furious, “Look- I don’t care what the hell you two do behind closed doors- but don’t you *ever* do something that idiotic in public again- you hear me?”
I slammed my fist on the table, “We weren’t having a goddamn fight Leonie!”
“I don’t care *what* you were doing- just don’t do it *again*. And for god's sake don’t fucking *kiss* him! You trying to keep that straight image is going down the tubes! All they need is one picture and there goes your reputation-”
“Who the hell cares if I *do* kiss him?! I’ll kiss whoever I damn well please-!”
“Don’t talk back to me!” Leonie hissed through her teeth, and I knew it was time to back down.
“Look- I’m sorry. Darren was just- he just wasn’t having a good night- I put him to bed-.”
“You should put him in the nut house.”
I winced, knowing she was right, “Leonie- he’s not that bad-.”
“He’s getting there.” She whispered. There wasn’t any anger left, “I know you’re watching out for him- but you can only do so much.”
“He’ll pull through this Leo.” I nodded, trying to believe it myself, “He’s just having a rough time right now. He’s strong.”
“I wish I could agree with you.” Leonie sighed, “Look- no rehearsal tomorrow. Just let Darren rest.”
“Yeah- great. Thank you-.”
“Daniel- take care of yourself.”
I smiled slightly, “I will Leo- thank you.”
Hmph.
“Yeah- life really does suck sometimes.” I trudged to the bedroom, not even bothering with a shower.
I stripped and crawled under the covers, thinking in the dark.
Thinking about what we had talked about in my dressing room.
I pulled Darren against me, giving him extra security.
The quiet sigh and his body relaxing told me he appreciated it.
And so I closed my eyes, and tried to sleep.
Even if it didn’t come until hours later.
~Chapter Fifteen~
There wasn’t an article about yesterday’s backstage episode in the morning paper. The reporters found something else more juicer to gossip about.
Daniel sighed, relieved, and sipped his coffee.
Darren just stared at the bowl of oatmeal.
“No rehearsal today Dazza.” Daniel tried to smile, “Leo gave us the day off.”
“She called yesterday night.” Darren mumbled, “Did she yell?”
“No.” Daniel frowned, hoping he hadn’t heard any of that conversation.
Darren merely nodded, sighing at the bright brown sugar smile that peered up at him.
Daniel bit his lip, having hoped that little gesture could cheer his partner up.
Obviously it wasn’t working this time.
“What would you like to do today?” Daniel was grateful the day was sunny.
“I want to go home.”
“To your apartment?” Daniel nodded, beginning to stand, “I’ll take you back there-.”
“I want to be by myself.”
Daniel lowered back down in his seat, “Darren please- you know I can’t let you do that.”
“Why?” Tears were in his eyes, “Because I’ll shoot myself if you do?”
Daniel shuddered, but didn’t say anything.
“I’m not going to kill myself-.”
“On purpose.” Daniel added quickly, peering into his eyes, “You could’ve bled to death the other night Darren-.”
“It was an accident.” The singer muttered, unconsciously touching his bandaged arm.
“You still could have died.”
“Who cares if I had?”
Daniel slammed his cup down, coffee spilling onto the table, “I fucking do!” And for the first time he let his anger out at Darren, “Ever stop to think that maybe I love you? That I want you to be okay, and not this... broken, scared- shell of a man I once knew? You can’t keep living like this Darren! You’re falling apart, and one of these days you won’t be able to just ignore it and make the world believe you’re okay-.”
“What the hell do you know?!” Darren cried, just as angry, “I’m handling this the best way I know how-.”
“Well then obviously you don’t know enough.” Daniel set his jaw, “I am *not* going to lose you to something- as stupid as this situation is! I don’t- I don’t know what the hell happened to you because *you* won’t talk! You won’t tell anyone anything- so we just sit there watching you lose your mind-.”
Darren stood up, turning his back, “You handle your pain your own way- let me deal with mine by myself-.”
“No.” Daniel softened his voice, putting his hands on Darren’s shoulders, “I will not let you handle this by yourself- because you won’t make it-.”
“Stop acting like I’m a mental case!” Daniel lowered his eyes, and Darren sighed, turning to face him, “You think I’m crazy... don’t you Jonesy?”
Daniel bit his lip, “Darren- I don’t know what’s wrong with you anymore- I don’t even know *who* you are anymore.”
Darren looked away, but not to ward off tears, “You liked that bratty diva who threw temper tantrums all the time?”
“I liked the friendly, outgoing, *happy* Darren I fell in love with.”
Darren returned his gaze, “That was never me Daniel. You know that- you’re just like everyone else.” He stepped back, “You love what the media shows.”
“No.” Daniel pulled him into his arms, “I *know* the real you. Hell- I lived with you for three years when we were first starting out- remember? I love when you’re *happy*, when you laugh- when you make others smile just by being around them.”
Darren closed his eyes, letting Daniel hold him tightly, “I hate being like this.” He admitted, one tear falling from his eyes.
“You don’t have to be.” Daniel soothed, lifting his chin, “Just- talk to me- or someone- let these emotions- these fears out- so we can work with them- and help you- help you smile again.”
Darren’s lower lip trembled, “I can’t tell you- or anyone- I don’t want to talk about it-.”
“You have to Dazza.” Daniel kissed him softly, “Or you’ll never heal.”
But Darren shook his head, looking almost embarrassed.
He was shaking now, Daniel sensing another panic attack coming on.
No point in pushing him anymore- he’d just retreat farther back into the darkness.
“Why don’t we go for a drive- it’s beautiful out.”
“I- I don’t want to- to go out today Danny.” His voice was shaking- stuttering.
Daniel wanted to cry when he saw Darren like this.
He led him to the bedroom, laid him on the bed, and just held him- wrapped in the sacred quilt.
Darren didn’t cry, he just tried to stop shaking and bathed in the presence of his incredible partner.
“You know I love holding you.” Daniel whispered after a while, “You fit perfectly in my arms.”
Darren cracked a hint of a smile, “I love- I love when you hold me.” He held onto Daniel tighter, who kissed his forehead in return.
“I talked to a firefly last night.”
Darren looked up, amusement in his eyes, “What did he say?”
Daniel smiled warmly, “Just told me how to live life.” He kissed Darren’s lips, “And not to feel sorry for myself.”
Darren thought about this for a moment, he wasn’t laughing at how absurd it was, “Do you think he was he right?”
“Yeah.” Daniel chuckled, rolling carefully on top of him, “He was.”
The pair just looked at each other.
They didn’t kiss, or start their hands roaming.
Darren shifted under Daniel’s weight, not looking uncomfortable, “You think- someday... things will be different?”
“Of course.” Daniel nuzzled his neck, “Life doesn’t stay still forever.”
“Do you think-” Darren returned the next kiss, “Do you think I’ll ever be happy again?”
Daniel sat back a little, his eyes hopeful, “Honestly- I think you will be. I believe that. Because I believe you can do anything you put your mind to.”
Darren smiled a little, letting Daniel kiss his face and start to move as low as he wanted.
It always seemed to help things.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“We don’t have to go outside today.” Daniel said hoarsely, many hours later.
Darren shook his head, nestled safely in his partner’s naked embrace.
“You all right baby?” Daniel kissed him, “Not too tired out for tomorrow’s gig?”
The singer closed his eyes, fatigued, “I’ll be fine.” He sighed, pulling Daniel closer to him, “I love you Jonesy.”
Daniel smiled brightly, “I know you do.” He kissed him again, feeling him already relaxing into sleep.
“And gods I-.” Daniel felt a choke of emotion rise from his heart, “I love you too.”
Darren didn’t hear it.
He was already asleep- dreaming of something quiet and comforting Daniel hoped.
Daniel rubbed at his face, shifting the pair to the front of the bed where the pillows and the blankets could keep them warm.
He thought about the firefly, about Darren, and a cigarette.
“Maybe that’s all I really need in life.” Daniel thought to himself, chuckling.
The wine and the post-orgasmic bliss was doing him in-
He slept.
~Chapter Sixteen~
Darren had said it from the beginning.
That someday- he would crash.
That he wouldn’t be able to handle any more emotions, any more hurt- and he would just simply fall to the ground, and not be able to get back up again.
My whole crusade was to prevent this from ever happening.
To bring Darren out of this darkness, to let him live his life again.
But at the concert the next night, I saw Life had a different plan.
And I could only watch by the sidelines.
There wasn’t any expectation of something bad to happen.
We hadn’t had a fight.
He hadn’t cried all day.
In fact- he seemed almost chipper before the show.
Darren was in wardrobe, being inspected for showtime decency.
His mask and persona were firmly set-
The audience was cheering- things were ready.
So nothing after intermission should have gone wrong.
Darren was working the crowd, singing to the out-stretched hands trying to touch him.
He sang to me, flirted around with the girls, and was the typical Darren everyone thought they knew.
And then something strange happened.
The song finished and he stood center-stage with the lights blinding his eyes, staring down at the floor.
I watched him carefully, wondering what he was up to.
“Thank you.” He said very softly into the microphone. When he raised his head tears were streaming down his cheeks, “Thank you for helping me live.”
And then he dropped the mike, and just fell.
Hit the ground hard in a dead faint, leaving everyone else too shocked to do anything.
Everyone but me.
I was surprised at how calm I was.
I just got up from the piano bench and knelt at his side.
It was abnormally quiet at first, a hundred pairs of eyes staring at the two of us.
I lifted him into my arms, caressing his stark white cheek, time starting up again as the quiet was shattered.
“Crash and burn.” I whispered into his ear, as people began to surround us, the shock leading into panic,
You’re not alone.”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
It was a long, hard night for all of us.
I just sat at his side like a loyal dog, holding the ice pack on the side of his bruised face and told him stories about my wild days as a teenager.
The doctors and whoever else was there taking care of him led me, his parents, and grandmother into a private room.
They were somber, worried.
Reflecting our own eyes.
One started to talk-
Talk about how they received records from a New York hospital dating from about seven months ago.
And that’s when I found out he had been raped.
He was looking for others just as lonely as himself, and he did find someone who pretended to be-
Someone who got him into a situation where he could not run to safety.
And destroyed everything that had ever made him whole.
Left him broken and terrified of anyone and everyone, and he could never be the same again.
I was the only one that stayed behind.
Everyone went home, to bed.
A smart thing to do at three in the morning.
I just sat and stared at his motionless form, asking why-
Why he never told me.
Why he didn’t call me after it had happened- so I could be by his side.
So he didn’t have to endure all that alone.
I had never had a chance to really sit down and think through what could have happened to him.
And now I did have the chance, and I just cursed that unknown man into the ground.
It wasn’t just the fact that he had destroyed my partner, but he was also still out there- on the streets.
Hurting other peoples’ partners-
Taking others’ lives away from them.
And these thoughts were the only thing that kept the tears away.
Darren’s dark secret was finally out.
He had crashed.
He had burned.
And now it was time to pick up the pieces and rebuild.
He wouldn’t be alone.
As hard as I knew these next few months were going to be- I somehow knew we would make it through.
I finally went to sleep around dawn, knowing that his parents, others were there to take care of him.
Ben took me home and I lay in my bed for the rest of the day.
Everything from the last few months had finally collapsed.
Things would have to be different now-
And I was afraid-
For Darren.
“He wants you to be by his side.” His grandmother’s gentle voice made me smile.
“I’ll be there. As soon as I can.”
He was awake when I arrived that evening.
Just the wind and the drip from the IV kept us company.
We didn’t speak.
Just looked at each other- held hands and communicated that we would be okay.
“I think I see the sun now Dar.” I kissed his forehead; watching the sun turn the gray clouds to pink, purple.
Darren turned his tired eyes to my own, and for the first time in many months, he truly smiled, “You made them go away.” He croaked out, trying to sit up to reach me.
“Your demons are gone.” I whispered, holding him in the tiny bed, “They’ll never hurt you again.”
Darren laid his head on my chest, closed his eyes, “Thank you for saving me Daniel.”
And then I realized his thanks to the audience was not for them.
It was for me.
And I cried for a long time after that.
When night had been present for a while and Darren had run out of soothing words to say, I wiped my eyes and took in a cleansing breath.
“What am I going to do with you Dar?” I nuzzled his neck.
He looked up and smiled, “Love me?”
“Always.” I kissed him gently, knowing I’d see that smile a lot more often now.
There was nothing left to hide now.
They all knew I loved him.
That he loved me back-
And maybe it made things awkward for some- but really- it didn’t matter.
So Life had given us one of her many tests.
And we passed.
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