Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Perhaps because he had shared his own family story so openly , I found myself willing to speak .
My mother passed away , I said hesitantly .
And my father , like yours , severed ties with me .
That year , at my mothers funeral , a sea of black clad mourners filled the hall .
The officiant delivered a lengthy eulogy , but my mind drifted halfway through .
I remember looking at my mothers photograph her gentle smile seeming to reach out to me and I smiled back .
The next instant, my fathers hand struck me to the ground .
Your mother is dead ! he roared .
How dare you smile ? Every eye in the room turned to me as if I were some kind of monster .
Terror gripped me .
Tears welled in my eyes , but I bit my lip , not daring to make a sound .
The first year after her death , my father would sit in the living room at night , poring over her letters and photographs .
By the second year , he had packed her belongings into boxes and pushed them into a forgotten corner .
By the third year , he had remarried .
My new stepmother dragged the boxes into the yard , declaring she would burn them all .
I desperately salvaged what I could from the pile , clutching my mothers camera to my chest .
The flames left their mark on my skin .
That camera became all I had left of her .
Later , my half sister was born .
The familys attention shifted entirely to her .

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I grew up like a shadow , turning eighteen without anyone noticing .
I enrolled in medical school .
On move in day , my father handed me a thick envelope .
Youre an adult now , he said .
Dont come back .
I nodded and counted it thirty thousand dollars .
The price of severing our blood ties .
At university , professors and classmates praised my aptitude for medicine , noting how I remained composed in any situation .
When I began practicing , this became my trademark strength .
I let out a small sigh .
These memories , buried so deep , had never been shared before .
Josephs brow furrowed , the usual hint of mischief vanishing from his expression .
His voice carried 17:43 Backup Girl No More : Adios To My V Card and My First Love 22.70 Chapter 10 an unusual gravity .
Zoey , dont you realize ? You were only five years old .
I froze .
What ? Laughing and crying are a childs birthright , he said softly .
Youve been holding yourself back because no one ever let you be a child .
His gentle words hit me like lightning .
After the funeral , my father had stopped speaking to me .
When my sister arrived , my needs were always secondary .
Through college , I juggled studies with survival .
Thinking back , I couldnt recall a single moment when Id been allowed to simply be a child .
I lowered my head .
Maybe so … but Im grown now .
I cant act like a child anymore .
To laugh when I want , cry when I want … Before I could finish , a sudden jolt shot through my ribs , like a spark of electricity .
I yelped in surprise and spun around .
Joseph had poked my side , wearing an impish grin .
Says who ? I tried to dodge , but he caught me .
It was as if hed found some hidden switch I couldnt stop giggling , no matter how hard I tried to maintain composure .
The laughter burst out of me like air from a balloon .
Stop ! No more ! It tickles ! Hahaha … please ! I struggled to escape but found myself cornered .
Tears of laughter streamed down my face .
Have mercy , Dr.
Joseph ! Let me go ! He flashed a mischievous smile and reached out again .
I curled into a defensive ball , bracing myself , but the expected tickle didnt come .
Cautiously peeking up , I saw his open palm extended toward me .
In it lay a piece of candy .
Heres a treat for the little one , he said with a gentle smile .
I stared at him , speechless.Unwrapping the candy , I popped it in my mouth .
It wasnt particularly good artificial fruit flavor , overly sweet .
But it made my eyes burn .
Joseph crouched down , pulled me to my feet , and wrapped me in his arms .
17.12 Backun Girl No More : Adios To My V Card and My First Love 22.9 % Chapter 10 Go ahead and cry , he whispered .
Its alright .
I know it hurts .
The warmth and strength of his embrace crumbled my final defenses .
How long had it been since I felt understood , cherished ? So long that Id convinced myself I didnt deserve it .
Yet here , in a distant land across the world , he comforted me with a piece of candy , as if I were still that little girl .
In that moment , the tears Id held back since I was five years old finally broke free , twenty years of pain pouring out at once .
He kept patting my back gently , letting his shirt absorb my tears .
At some point Im not sure when I cried myself to sleep in his arms .
From then , Joseph and I began dating ..
17:43