la's

different when yo

ain pressing against the glass. Morning light slanted through the curtains

eyes, I saw him-Alex's mouth curving into a smile that wasn't for me a

t made

oke the silence. She was sitting on the couch

re a little longer.

suitcase the r

rp. "There's nothi

ked at me-eyes rimmed red from holdin

oing to b

ctively and protectively. I hadn't told many lies in my life, b

itated. "Do

from my stomach. "No," I s

The kind that fill

hen closed it again. There

icked up the photo frame-the o

into the sun, my hair tangled by the wind, my la

a long moment before

zzed once. I

hest, a clean slice, becaus

dn't

o come with you?"

e work. And... this is som

r mother-strong, heartbroken, and helpless. She crossed

d against my hair. "Promise you'

throat burni

t know if th

use went quiet again. The kind of

ith memories-his coat hanging by the door, a half-read bo

h his name listed under emergency con

rom my bag and

ut relentless. I pulled my coat tighter and stepped into the street, dragging the

shing, buses passing, lives continuing. The city I'd once dr

ion before I realiz

hissed and sighed, people said hellos and goodbyes, the a

hands pressed between my knees, trying to breathe through the n

ale, tired,

zzed again.

name until the

Like he always was wh

im why. To scream. To whisper that he was g

hel

oto again. That woman's hand is in

green button, trembling.

, long and mournful. I stood, clutching my ba

en laughing, couples kissing goodbye,

visible a

d-less like a wound, more like an echo. I thought of my mo

always do. And when you hold that

. I wasn't sure I did

and found a window seat. The city stretched before me, damp

my palm to

now," I

with every passing second. The skyline blurred,

There was a strange peace in the motion, in

s didn't look like the same girl who'd fallen in love

lass, streaking everything into soft

look back.