Breathe Read Online Free PDF Page B

enough, I went to church by myself most Sundays.  It was something I could do to honor my mom’s memory and helped me to maintain a tangible connection to her in some way.  God’s existence was something that I questioned just like everyone else.  I finally came to the conclusion that life is so intricate, so complex, that it was impossible that it just happened by chance.  
    I could not explain how or why but Bethany had become very important to me, very quickly.  Some people you just ‘click’ with immediately.  Like you have been waiting for them your entire life and when you finally meet them, you want to say, “Oh, there you are!”  Bethany was that person for me.  I’d had one real conversation with her, and I found myself missing her like crazy.  She was becoming an obsession with me.  I knew it wasn’t smart or healthy, but she was constantly on my mind. 
    After that run in with her dad, I resisted the temptation to knock on her front door to see if she was alright.  It would just make things worse for her.  Besides, I already knew she wasn’t okay.  I just wanted an excuse to see her.  I wanted to promise her that I was going to make sure she was never hurt again. 
    I was absent mindedly twirling a pencil on the library table as my thoughts wandered to the first time I saw her. I glanced into those brilliant green eyes when Bethany bumped into me and just for an instant she let her guard slip.  She was so flustered that I was able to see true emotion on that beautiful face.  Just as soon as I saw it, the wall came back down and shut me out.  It made me intensely curious, and I knew I had to get to know her better.  It took several weeks of lurking in the library, but eventually I was able to get her to trust me enough to take her home.  That brilliant idea didn’t turn out so well. 
    I heard the library doors open and peered over my shoulder to see the object of my musings walking awkwardly toward the front desk.  Mrs. Calloway glanced up from her computer screen.  A welcoming smile lit her ancient face.
    “Bethany, it’s great to see you back at school.  We missed you.  Nurse Renner said your mother called to let us know you were in a car wreck.  I am so thankful you and your mother are okay.”
    Bethany’s gaze darted to mine.  She quickly looked away before she answered. 
    “Thank you.  I am feeling better, but my muscles are still a bit sore.” 
    She was lying.  Her slow measured steps were not caused by sore muscles, and I knew it wasn’t from a car wreck.  I fought to control the fury that rose up at the thought of that imbecile laying a hand on her.  Bethany gradually made her way to the table at the back of the library.  She warily avoided eye contact as she walked past me.  It was agonizing to watch every slow painful step she made.  I deliberately turned my head to watch her progress as she walked past me.  She pulled out her chair and sat down gingerly.  That was all I could take.  I waited until she got her books out to approach her.   When she realized I was heading her way, her expression never changed, but I noticed she tensed up. 
    “Is this seat taken?” 
    I flashed my best grin.  She wasn’t impressed. 
    “Look Logan, there are ten other tables you can sit at and I have a ton of make-up work to do,” she huffed. 
    Dismissing me, she looked back down at her book.  I stood there for a good ten seconds, but she refused to acknowledge me.  I was not going walk away from her so I cleared my throat and tried again,
    “Bethany?” 
    She signed theatrically and tore her gaze away from her book to glare at me.
    “If I promise to miss you, will you go away?”
     
    Not even that was going to work today.  I was determined to get past her defenses.
    “Look, I am sorry if I got you in trouble last week.  I really just wanted a chance to get to know you better.  I had no idea it would set your dad off like that,” I continued.  
    Her