the café on

f beyond a quiet, "I need to leave town." Lena stared at her like she'd

t," she said. "Not wi

he café door would always be open. Marilyn nodded, thanked her

orter had decided something

as ru

g meant slowly being erased. Every part of her life had begun to feel compromised:

l W

t more than she

m years ago. She left the envelope with the cashier's check on the table, un

t be b

sages she refused to read. She already knew what they'd say

tle. To

ed the truth

's apartment when his assistant's voi

orter resigned fr

him like a p

l said shar

morn

screamed that this was worse than he'd feared. He pressed har

here, his pho

fa

te this time. He a

this mad

atingly so. "I see she's alrea

r life," Carl said.

y," Darius replied. "One

ripping the steering wheel s

said. "You don't get to h

're emotional. That

snapped. "This isn't

llowed, lo

onger," Darius said finally.

ds slic

ietly. "That doesn't mea

" Darius said. "And I

bitterly. "Yo

le

you touch her life again, I will burn every bridge you built between u

e hardened. "

rl replied and

s life, Carl Woode chose

tment door for the last

n't loo

for reasons that didn't matter. Marilyn bought a one-way ticket to the n

felt

worse t

memories crept in uninvited. Carl standing awkwardly in her café. Carl apol

erself fiercely. Or at

ibrated in

a

gnored it ag

it, weakness, hop

said, her

u?" Carl aske

d despite herself.

aid. "It ma

eyes. "Your fathe

y. "And I swear to you, I

. "Why did everything in my life start

ect you fast enough,"

ly. "You think tha

Carl said. "I cut

n hesi

he said softly. "And it doesn't ch

at?" Car

as naïve enough to believe I matte

ice broke-just slightly. "Not as a pr

d her eyes, but sh

ther," Marilyn said. "I can't live waitin

ed. "I want to choose you. Public

t to choose love without

fiercely. "Not if I'm willi

uncement echoed t

ood, heart

he said. "I need

come," C

s is something you have

before he co

the bus station

utes to

s, chest heaving, the realiza

, all his wealth,

ose the one thin

e, it would

isappeared into the night, Carl Wood

d win h

of his life knowing exact