The Notebook//Joshler

January 9

today, i met my boyfriend's parents.

their names are laura and bill.

they told me to call them that after i called them 'mr. and mrs. dun.'

i never once let go of joshua's hand.

i wore the one nice shirt i owned.

i wanted to make a good impression.

though apparently, joshua had told them about me already.

"we've heard so much about you," laura smiled. "you make joshua so happy."

i was surprised.

i didn't think i had the power to make someone feel anything positive.

"if you ever need anything, anything at all, please, don't be afraid to come over," bill said. "our home is your home."

i nodded.

i knew what he was talking about.

he knew i was poor.

he knew i was struggling emotionally and financially.

but i thanked him for the kind offer anyway.

i had dinner at the dun household.

baked chicken, mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts, garlic rolls.

i forgot what a home-cooked meal tasted like.

i ate every single bit of it.

joshua ended up giving me half of his plate, too.

still, i held his hand under the table.

joshua has three siblings.

ashley is sixteen. she had red hair and writes magnificent poetry.

jordan is fourteen. he has curly black hair and plays soccer.

and abigail is six. she has red hair and freckles. she said i was even prettier than joshua described me as.

abigail then requested to sit in my lap.

so i let her.

she played with my fingers, and when she flipped my arm over, her tiny fingers gently caressed the scars lining my wrists.

luckily, she said nothing.

she seemed almost....

familiar with them.

then i recalled when joshua told me of his time of darkness.

that's where she recognized them from.

she just kissed them one by one and hugged my arm, falling asleep as i held her.

when joshua said he was going to drive me back home, abigail just simply wouldn't let go. she had woken up.

she told me she'd only let go if i promised i would come back soon.

so i did.

she then kissed my cheek and let go.

i hugged all of the dun family goodbye, thanking the parents once again for the lovely meal.

"anytime," they said. "please, come back next week."

i nodded and smiled.

i think they liked me.

joshua then drove me back to my disgusting, tiny apartment. he pressed a soft kiss to my lips before he went back to his large, three story home with marble countertops and a glowing fireplace.

and i sat on my creaking, twin-sized bed.

so here i am now.

i have work tomorrow.

goodnight.

-tyler