ountdown of her life, she would lea

by funeral homes felt too s

d private studio and boo

Adrian and Vanessa inside-right in t

earby with the camera, enthusiastically directing, "Good, hold that pose! Now lean i

ing his head and placing a gentle, car

n-before Vanessa woke up, she

e would do the same-pressing a

able to straighten her back, he would look up massage tec

h a critical phase before going public, and Va

ding, no wedding dress. She would stop and

ise, with absolute certainty, "Give it two more years. Whether

those promises, disappeared

ment like this wo

o of them wrapped in their own world,

uietly, read

licate voice called

e music and shutter clicks

sa still leaning against Adr

face. He quickly let go of Vanessa's waist a

The confirmation message for her

photos," she

space behind her. A flicker of understanding and mockery

r wedding shoot-it's for the wedding. I told him it's just for formality, we didn'

f arm and smiled, "Evelyn, since you're

t, but every word ca

ed, trying to stop her-

icated-awkward, urging, and perhaps somet

r? Was he afraid Evel

sa's smug expression and settle

her lips lif

none of this had anything to do wit

zzling wedding dress and Adrian's white s

anging expressions again. S

ssa grabbed his arm tightly. "Adrian, the phot

e street. The sunlight

her nose, and somethin

bag, wiped away the streak of red,