Eric's jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might shut down completely. But then he leaned forward, his eyes locking onto mine.''Maybe I don't,'' he said, his voice low.''But that doesn't mean I'm going to let someone like him tear you down.'' This is a work of fiction. All places, characters, and names are entirely made up and do not exist in reality. This story is purely a product of my imagination, and the world within it exists only in my mind. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you