ic and something faintly sweet, li

e of her shoe. The room was too white. Too bright. Every sound echoed-the shuffle of nur

old anyone s

he'd just woken up with that feeling again-heavy, in

er kindly. Too kindly

breath

ooked

li

ened around the e

she wh

ragile. Like it might break

Her heart was pounding too hard, a dull roar in her ears. She pressed her palm flat

gna

t floated somewhere between terr

too brightly, too suddenly. The city moved on around her-cars honking,

hand still resting low on her

ame uninvited

will make

e in his world, making him look at her the way she remember

efore doubt could

she said.

something in her chest. She rehearsed her entrance, rehearsed her tone, rehearse

me. He'l

essing in, all noise and heat, all i

ring back at her from the mirrored walls. She looked the same. Ma

lway, heels clicking softly, each tap a heartbeat she

le. He's in

e said. And

ce door was

ghter before

ite kind. T

wed. Her brea

lf not to assu

he saw

he hadn't seen in weeks. The woman from the restaurant was there-perched on the edge

fr

and of hair from the woman's face

stop

rowed to that

said softly, not

n tu

" he

t answer.

ice had that practiced calm, the kind th

d instinctively dropped to her stomach, fingers brushing the he

eyes widened

rupted. His voice

i

he casual closeness. The ease. The

ed to shake him. She wanted him to see her t

rself?" she a

t infuriating smirk. "I don't se

indifference. The I don't c

id softly. "I

lly, comfortably. Not a hint of remors

stomach again, pressing against the

ught. Maybe someday he

d her throat. "A

said. "G

t her go. Watched her go. Didn't

om fel

rd her, but it wasn't sof

n said finally. Her voice l

ve had to walk in

"I didn't thi

hair, to the space she should have tak

t care,"

dn't

fine. She would carry this, she would protect it,

elevator. Each step deli

ed her forehead against the cool

she whispered. "

him, the ease of his indifference, settled

to choose her. She w