INUTE

estaurant hall, his empty glass held wi

he tension in their eyes. The once vibrant

at the side of the room, picking broken glasses into a tray, w

too many eyes avoiding eye con

d, his expression hardening s

ce re

contact while some acted

is eyes randomly sear

Anna and Ben were both absent

e's A

od near the centre of the room grabbed h

ffened as her name e

his voice dropped, with his

me, his voice was loude

no on

ho was cleaning the broken glass, slowly lifted her

e restroo

ection immediately, and his ex

id, rushing fast t

*

ounding with every step, his shoes

he stood just outside t

knocke

a

lled with urgency but co

espo

ed once more. His hands repeatedl

ce re

d out on his chest and her warm breath faint against his n

hi

ghtened his grip around h

l, with his mind continuously mov

s now calmer in his arms, then

ened, and he

cking again, loud enough to

e paused

hear me, I'm

antly. What he least want

beneath her knees, the other around her back, then st

t suffocating, and silence remained between them. The sight of an

Francis questioned as

forward, ignoring Francis and hi

d his shoulder firmly. His expression clearly darkene

ou." His voice wa

n remaine

ten harder. He glanced back at Anna, her f

d stretched again toward

ng Francis' hand by the tip of a finger,

remained unreadable, an

expressio

sn't loo

He slowly turned toward Francis,

tart with the people

expression, how they had all awkwardly avoided eye contac

rom Francis' hand and walked

e with Anna still unconscious in his arms. He

t the same people who bragged abou

fist before sending a strong

*

ate hall carrying Anna in his arms,

em, but no one said a

inued moving fast, headed straight for a brown

ward as though she had something to say. Maybe she tried to explain, or maybe defe

o more. All that remained was cold d

e people who laughed while Anna slowly broke apar

pushed through the doors and disappeared

no one resumed talking.

-

hall, whatever patience he had walked ou

han before. His gaze wandered from person

d tightly into each other. Her usual

stared

a low, sharp voice, one that sai

nie bl

cis,

didn't rise, calm and sof

aking, but no words could come out. He

ned. The silence irr

muttered, "It was just.

ked back at Stephanie. "A misun

toward him, her hands raised,

"I didn't say anything that wasn't true," she paused

ooked at her for another second. His

hed toward him

is, wa

gh to avoid her touch, his face remain

t tou

sion cracked, her

ncis

He just marched straight for the exit door,

*

gh he could be stupid sometimes, he was

even getting a ride would be

the receptionist, he was able to lodge in one of t

with large glass win

ered Anna down as gently as he could, even i

straight into

atching her, making sure she was okay, t

d a strand of hair away from her

hand from her face, then quietly steppe

ht from the wall, leaving only the silver wa

against the glass, with the city light

he window. His hand paused on the door han

athing became uneven once more. Her finger

ted, and her soft

't leav

fr

w filled with pain even in sleep as another

eas

eave me