Vlone

•25•

|Valerie|

"Thanks for meeting up with me for lunch. I'm literally trying so hard to get my life back together right now.", I said to Jupiter as we sipped our coffee and watched the things going on around us.

"For sure. You can talk to me about anything.", she smiled.

She was around the same age as Yami but I felt like she had more knowledge about situations like this since it's her job to know about stuff like this.

I had gotten with her a few times these past few months to really discuss my life.

It felt good talking to someone who didn't really know me so I felt like I could tell her anything and not feel bad.

"Devin's been very kind but also very mean. Sometimes he gets mad and throws things like usual but he still hasn't actually hit me. It's like he's holding himself back in hopes that the less violence he shows to me will make me less cautious of having a relationship with him.", I said before sipping my drink.

"Have y'all been having sex?", she asked making me choke on my drink.

"You in my business.....don't do that.", I laughed.

"No, seriously. Are y'all having sex?", she asked me again with a smirk.

"Hm...I guess you could say that we have had a couple steamy sessions but wait...before you say anything, it was during the heat of the moment! Don't blame me, blame hormones!", I laughed again and she laughed along with me.

"The more you sleep with him, the more you get attached. Practice celibacy. Devin will not change clearly since he is still throwing things at you. The way I see it...maybe you should give him a push in the direction of seeing other people possibly.", she suggested.

"Me?", I asked her.

"Yes, you. I don't think Devin really wants to be with you. I think he enjoys the idea of controlling someone who can't beat him. Are you setting boundaries?", she asked me.

"Yes. I tell him when I don't like something. I've been told him that I don't want to be with him....what more can I do if he's just going to get mad when I talk my shit.", I said turning to her.

"I'm not talking about that....you piss him off when you talk shit so talk to him sweet. Let him know facts in a way that he can understand. Communicate your boundaries and guide him towards the end of y'all's relationship. Someone he won't want to beat.", she smiled.

I smiled too and turned back to the scenery around us.

She wants me to manipulate the situation.

How in the hell would I get him to not want me.....

"You're a stronger woman....you'll figure it out.", she added.

"It doesn't hurt me

Do you wanna feel how it feels?

Do you wanna know, know that it doesn't hurt me?

Do you wanna hear about the deal that I'm making?

You, it's you and me

And if I only could

I'd make a deal with God

And I'd get him to swap our places

Be running up that road

Be running up that hill

Be running up that building

Say, if I only could, ooh

You don't wanna hurt me