s quiet when

ck echoed through the wid

f whiskey in his hand. The city lights poured through the tall w

look up

s follow me the mo

e stairs, keeping my vo

e soft sound of ice

toward the kitchen, each step measured,

ah's gaze linge

't ask if

e wanted me to

glance in hi

I'm not here, h

k me everything - if I was tired, if I wanted dinner,

ter and drank quietly,

t even loo

invisible in

He could tell she was keeping her distanc

to

playing. Her eyes were hollow, her

of my perfume - familiar, clean, something that used

ing quiet.

ions, no hesitation, no trace of the woman who used t

just dis

s drink, the amber liq

pretending, h

act indi

on't

s, his chest tightened unexpectedly - a flicker of

erstand it, d

k, closing hi

not going t

hem again, the s

se felt

ng what was left, letting th

ce was what

e could

he found himself listening - waiting - for

me, he realized he'd b