home bef

one fel

the windows in thin, indifferent lines. She didn't turn anything on right away. Just s

er, the sound sharp in the stillness. She flinched at

refully. Like if she moved too fast, some

ogether during late movies. The coffee table Allen insisted stay clear of clutter. The framed

the frame

y. Just...

ft cam

rapped, the ribbon perfectly tied. She stood there a long moment w

The surprise. The gratitude

t back onto the shelf

d left them. Unburned. She blew them out anyway.

half of it in one go. The rest sat forgotten as s

strangely

g the life they'd built like she was already preparing to l

essa

ill in her dress, knees drawn to her chest. The fabric

allow. She focused o

home, she t

ve an ex

unded tired

cked sometim

idn't

urried. The sound of his keys hitting the bow

" he

after a bea

inks. He looked... fine. Normal. Not a man who

t go to be

er, not quite landing. The faint scent clinging

aiting,"

r m

ton

s face. Not guilt. More like

aid. "Sorry.

no

kiss to her cheek. Habitual. Absent

lean into it the

dn't

d, already moving

N

alf-turned.

The sound got stuck

rt folded. Watch placed carefully on the dresse

lap, watching the distance between them

t what today w

sti

or a s

aid. "Of c

wa

't add

ed?" Her voice wa

gh his hair. "Work happened. Thi

t?" she

ally met them. Something

d I wa

aze. "Did you

her

es

e it

once. Small

he

ghtly. "Why do

heard you laugh. Because sh

aid, "I made a

he absence of evidence for the fir

id. "I didn

ore than sh

anyway,"

unded surprised.

es

was

llowed.

e'd accepted everything else

already reaching for sleep. Tu

etween them

already heavy. "We'll do

red at

be free,"

n't as

ed out quickly. He

ythm of his breaths. The city beyond the gl

she slid

elf in the mirror. Her eyes looked darker. Older. L

for her we

it onc

pulled it off. The sting was b

on the counter, ri

opened

note.

ngers

e typed a s

I need

at it for a

ifted in his sleep. Mumble

dn't g

scheduled a

to be

she faced the edge of the bed,

ere without though

osed h

years, she let herself imagine

rrifi

eadie