<span style="color: #FF80FF"> <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><div style="text-align: center;">Lea Stevens</div></span></span> </span><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/036e0d3a-b28c-47ec-b858-0eaea6c67e4d.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #FF80FF"><div style="text-align: center;">"Jazz"</div></span></span></span><br/><br/>Lea jumped when Carlos' voice washed over the room. She had been so drawn into the photo she hadn't heard him come in. She looked up at him with startled eyes, not sure what to make of his request.<br/><br/>After a few moments of silence, Lea finally scooted over on the couch to make room for Carlos. He seemed to accept the invitation and strode over, sitting down next to her. She was quiet as she debated where to start, setting the photo that was in her hand down on the table.<br/><br/>Everything was arranged chronologically, from when her and John had been just dating to the last newspaper article about the home invasion that ended so terribly.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF80FF">"I met John when I was still in high school..."</span>she stated softly, hugging her knees,<span style="color: #FF80FF"> "I didn't have the best home life, so I tried to stay out of the house as much as possible. My parents always fought, dad hitting mom, mom screaming at dad. They never pulled me into it or anything...but I think it was mostly because they would forget I existed," </span>she laid her chin on her knees, her eyes a bit far away.<span style="color: #FF80FF">"Anyway, I met John at a roller rink. He worked there and had come out to help me on the floor cause my clumsy ass had taken a pretty bad fall. I broke my arm. He had tried to call my parents for me, but they didn't answer so he decided to ride in the ambulance with me. He stayed the entire time, and in my doped up haze, I said he was the nicest person I ever met and I'd love it if he were to go on a date with me..."</span>Lea's eyes became watery and a few tears slipped out as she gave a small laugh,<span style="color: #FF80FF"> "He said that he ethically was torn as I wasn't in my right mind, but how could he pass up such an opportunity with such a pretty girl...after that, we were inseparable."</span>Lea wiped her face some with the back of her hand.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF80FF">"He was only two years older than me, but it felt like he was far older than that with how calm he was all the time. He was the only peace I ever had. He never raised his voice, never became angry, never argued. He approached everything very gently, quietly, with some sort of tranquility I was never able to find anywhere but with him. The only time I had ever seen him really angry is the day my dad had hit me for the first and last time. I don't even remember what he hit me for, I just know it was after graduation, but John didn't care about the why, just that it happened." </span>Lea paused to lean forward and grab a picture. It was of her and John standing in some sort of park smiling into the camera while Lea excitedly held up her left hand, showing off a pretty engagement ring.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF80FF">"He came over and began to pack all my stuff. My dad tried to stop him while my mom just let it happen. My dad swung at John and within two seconds my dad was out cold with John dragging him to his chair. He left him there and finished packing my stuff. His friends came over then and helped him load it all into his car and he grabbed my hand and shoved that ring on my finger. I got really angry at him. Asked him what kind of proposal was that? He got really quiet and apologized. He looked like a kicked puppy and I felt really bad. I said I was sorry and he only told me that, no, I was right. He still asked that I come with him and I did." </span><br/><br/>Lea had to stop for a moment to take a calming breath, then continued.<span style="color: #FF80FF">"He reproposed, taking me to our favorite places and then finally ending in that park. We got married a few months later. I was only 18, but it was the right decision. Everyone wanted us to wait because we were so young. We managed just fine though. I got a job working as a secretary and he ended up going to school and getting a degree in business. About the time he graduated, we found out I was pregnant. I had just turned 22 and had Lucas the same year...I'm sorry. I can't talk about this anymore. Not right now,"</span>Lea said as she covered her face. Talking about John was difficult enough, but talking about their son was even harder. She couldn't continue, not right then. It was too much at once and she needed time before she would ever be able to get the full story out.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF80FF">"I'm sorry. I just can't. I just...I just can't,"</span>she cried quietly.<span style="color: #FF80FF"> "You can look through these things if you want, but...I c-can't talk about this anymore. Not right now."</span>