Until My Heart Stops Beating Read Online Free PDF Page A

didn’t call to talk to you about my problems with dad. I miss you. How have you been?”
                  She sighed. “I’ve been good Mark.”
                  He could hear the sadness and disappointment in her response. He was disappointed too. His love for Makeba ran deep and they were always very close. He was her big brother, her protector. He knew she looked up to him and he felt like he let her down by leaving but he couldn’t stand being under his parent's roof anymore.
                  His relationship with their father was already strained. The day he announced that he would not be attending Seton Hall Law School made it even worse. Mark didn’t care. It was his life and he was not in the business of people pleasing, not even his own father. Law school was not his dream. It was his dad’s. Mark loved technology. He was offered a six figure position with a technology company in Dallas, Texas. It was an opportunity too good to pass up so he accepted, leaving home without his father’s good graces. Mark realized he couldn’t live for anyone but himself and he told his dad so. He also told him he was a grown man, not a little boy who was incapable of making his own decisions. The disagreement got so bad that his mom had to interfere, literally standing in the middle of them in an effort to keep them apart. Mr. Jones told him he was no longer allowed to sleep under his roof. Mark packed his bags and left that night. The company needed him right away and offered to pay relocation costs which couldn’t have come at a better time. He left that night kissing Mrs. Jones and Makeba goodbye. That was four years ago. A wife and a two year old daughter later and he still hadn’t been home since that night.
                  “Makeba, why don’t you come see me for the holidays this year?”
                  “Mark, I don’t have money to travel. You know what I’m trying to do.”
                  “Yes I do. I will pay your traveling expenses and we have an extra room for you here which eliminates the need to pay for a hotel. You don’t have to worry about a thing.
                  “Are you sure?”
                  “I’m positive. Monica would love the company.”
                  “I would love to Mark. I can finally see my niece in person.”
                  “Yes you can. Let’s make this happen for Thanksgiving, that way you won’t have to hear dad’s mouth about missing Christmas.”
                  “That’s a plan. Thank you Mark.”
                  “Anytime little sister. I can’t wait to see you.”
                  “Ditto! Anyway, we’re discussing the holidays like it’s right around the corner. Thanksgiving is four months away. A lot can happen by then.”
                  He knew what she was hinting at. “I wouldn’t bet on it girl.”
                  “Well I can dream.  Look, I have to go. My bus is coming. I love you.”
                  “I love you too little sister.”
                  She terminated the call then boarded the number twenty-five bus heading to Newark Penn Station to connect to the sixty-two to Newark Airport.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    You Again
     
     
                  It was always a joy hearing from Mark. She missed him so much. Her dad made her so mad sometimes because of how stubborn he was. His reluctance to rectify things with his son was not only affecting him but the entire family. The person she felt the most sorry for was her mom. Being unable to see her son for so long had to be heartbreaking.
                  After placing her purse under the counter and locking it in the cabinet, she began counting her beer bottles. Strangely, it appeared