Showing results by author "J. A. DeRouen" in All Categories

I fancy myself a purveyor of truth, a sifter of lies, a cutter of bullshit. It's not a gift, but rather all skill, honed to a razor's edge after one too many trips down the rabbit hole. Some may dismiss my talent as misguided cynicism, but they'd be wrong. Clichés about hope and faith in mankind are an effort to keep the dreamers dreaming. Experiences don't lie - people do. While I'm not proud of the circumstances that led me to this way of thinking, I respect the journey.

Sebastian Kelly believes he isn't worthy of redemption, of a chance to right his wrongs. But an unexpected trip home, the place he dreads most, calls in question everything he's come to believe. And who knows, he may find exactly what he's been waiting for.

Marlo: wild eyed, untamed, and every single thing I've ever wanted from this life. I wasn't ready for her back then. I was a stupid boy with adult feelings and no idea what to do with them. I squandered away every chance she gave me. Yes, a love like ours either burns white hot or crumbles under the pressure. And now I'm back to sift through the rubble. Questions and excuses are two things I have in spades. What I need now are answers.

Perfection. One word. Three syllables. Every reason why I'll never have the one thing I truly want. I stand dutifully on the pedestal he's built, waiting for the day he truly sees me. Then one amazing night, he lets down his walls, only to leave me the next day. Years have passed, and I've tried to move on with my life. But I still dream of him. I still miss him everyday. The memories haunt me. How can I look to the future when my past remains a mystery? The time has come to find the boy who stole my heart and ran away without a word.

Promises are lies dressed up for the party. Secrets poison the fairest of fairy tales. Lies stain the purest of loves. I've paid the ultimate price for my choices. The tendrils of those sins bind me to my past. The remnants of my love hold me captive. Then he walks into my life, and makes me believe in second chances. He awakens feelings in me I know I shouldn't have. I yearn for a future without guilt. With him, I dream of a love untainted. Regret is a far-reaching emotion. It barrels through time like a blazing comet, and its path isn't always straight.

Today is the day; the day that the man I love marries someone else. I don't deserve pity or sympathy. I've made my bed. I left Mason and ripped his heart to pieces as I ran away. The guilt and sorrow consume me, threatening to choke me everyday. But today is a new beginning. Today is the day I will wake up with a renewed resolve and determination to do better...to be better...to be worthy. My name is Sara Preston, and this is my story about what happens after.