oke through the fog in Brynn's mind

steadied her hand eno

he staff moved her tow

ng through her veins, a heavy dar

, she thought she heard so

pped in the sharp smell of antiseptic

venteen-year-old Richard held down by villagers, his

Firm. She had once run straight into Richard's arm

wedding gown, leaning into Richard's embrace, while s

er, the only sound Brynn recognized was th

the blinds and spread a cold

e wavering line that re

faded, the incision began to pu

llow until she found her phone

lief pump again and again, though nothing seemed t

cheeks while her thoughts s

the pain was at its peak, te

nd climbed over the windowsill, Brynn's ringi

the whole night, and she had barel

me glowed on

ttled in her chest as

uiet. "Brynn. I tore up your resignation letter. You're ex

outh, hoping to tell him

teasing voice drifted through the line. "R

thrown over her head. A sour sting climbed up her throa

d. With a single motion, she swiped across the screen and

a clear finality. Not even a

..

the CT scan with a deep frown. "You had severe appendicitis and complications. You really pushed y

looked drained of color. She offered him a fai

Clouds still blanketed the sky, yet the air felt clean and cool, filled with the earthy scent of newly damp

ew in a long breath of crisp morning air. It felt like she was clearing out every trace of

the building for a brief moment before she shifted her gaze back t

..

picture window that overlooked the restless stree

friend, tried Brynn's number aga

," Jerold muttered with a s

en Richard's brows, and hi

ging into his voice. As the firm's third par

really upset, isn't she? It's already been a week. You two have argued ple

his reflection a cold sil

might be ill?" Jer

been lively and full of energy. He had never once seen her bedridden. Moreover, since she had

She didn't sound sick," Richard

adn't said anyt

ng to him so he could blow on it, as if that alone could cure

That alone told him how de

f she's fine, then why hasn't she even asked f

really crossed the line this time. Anyone would be upset if t

rolled his eyes dramatically. "Never mind. B

poke. "The firm doesn't keep people who refuse to work. Tell

k. The firm had always been the place where she clung closest t

I'll let everyone know. Once Brynn hears it,

em, he had seen Brynn trailin

d was everything

t. He saw her as a shadow he couldn't quite shake

d held even a fraction of true affection for her, he never would

his hand, Richard signal

ther comment and walk

e. On any ordinary day, Brynn would have

owed their last convers

a message that read, "I'm the happiest pe

respond

of messages, while his replies rarely went beyo

th no new messages from her at al

ed him enough that he t

he wouldn't let her s

..

n quietly began sorting

real estate agent and listed her apartment for sale. She set the p

d the transfer papers. The apar

phone buzzed ag

creen, she saw the HR

ent a long moment deciding whether t

Yates said if you don't come back soon..." The person on t