he afternoon light stretched long across the crowded street, glinting on t

f all emotions had dried up. No more an

ur past, the neighborhoods, the strangers, the streetlights beginning to glow in the du

re moving to the city with Edric. I opened my phone, checke

my phone began to vibrate. On the screen appeared a n

ed before

warm, and familiar. "The maid told me you left th

other's kindness that had always embraced me, e

I just... need to get away for a while. Between Edri

for a few seconds,

day would come sooner or later.

ly, though my

say that. I do

as if I were speaking m

the scenery drift by. Memories began to surf

side inn to pull someone trapped from a burning car. I didn't think about anything t

Mr. Raymond, were by my side. They told me I had saved t

at time, I didn

had taken away my memory. A

no friend

g small jobs to survive with an

hat they would take care of me

Edric a

told me that if I agreed to marry Edric, they would consider it repayment for sa

on our wedding day, Edric

ember that

ely two pages long, with w

emotional involvement required. After

and signe

over. And deep down, I had hoped that maybe within those two years,

y, I und

ngs are meant t

pulled me back

t. I have no right to ask you to stay. But please remember this, Anne... no matter what happen

ip, my voi

rateful for your kindness. Perhaps the only thing

e said softly. "It's just a pi

rs, which slipped down

hing. From the start, i

lowly, "I believe one

e wind whistling through the cracks of the window. When the call en

opped at t

The air smelled of jet fuel, filled with the sharp

ngs money I'd earned myself over the past two years by teaching ch

new, and I ne

to leave wit

d to live a life where I

terminal stairs, a sud

om across the road that was

d someone shout, and th

hoed in my ears. Warm b

ite and then blur

.

nt, inside the Ra

phone in hand. The screen's glow reflected i

was a single

don't have to

faint, satisfied smil

leaned back, and gazed t

holding two c

miling at?" he

of soft brown hair behind her e

just got rid of something that

rowned

ethi

ok her cup, tilted her

she whispered, her voice hone

r of doubt in his eyes, b

rig

ice doo

ffee lingered in the air... and Bella's knowing s