fi

le man. The one her mo

ttered with a smi

r a second, then

said, her voice liltin

spoke, his tone soft, warm and worried. J

Straight to the interrogation, huh? Can't a girl

said gently. I'm just... you

ly. You win the prize. W

ight, he said, his voice tighten

she teased. Why? Are you planning to

not what I mean. I just wan

e walked. I'm fine, Jay I'm not some fragile

lmost pleading. Why are you being like this lately? You've

h her eyes were suddenly sharp. Maybe I

You're pushing everyone away,

shoulder. I'm pushing away people who think they

nk, Jay sa

the dark. There's a difference. Drunk pe

h, half a laugh, half a

she countered. Always so

e slightly. Is that

hough her chest

hers want their daughters to marry. Bu

most feel his hurt through the

ng light, that maybe I want more than sweet words

burns destroys,

bitterly. T

ound herself as the night breeze brushed her skin. Somewhere in the

ady now. I know you're angry. I know your mum h

alking. Did my m

e said you left the house in the

d. Saint Mother of Perpetual Worry. Mayb

e loves yo

e mocking. If that's love,

, he whispered. She'

and called me a disgrace. Joanna snapped, her voi

ain. She was upset. You

nd started walking again

e said quickly. I'm try

aybe you should stop trying. Mayb

st time, Joanna heard his breathing falter. When

ill love

e a strange, tiny jolt.

ight laugh. That's such a h

oftly. Don't joke

y, I'll answer when you learn t

is voice cracked,

ow who I'm talk

ly. Maybe it's time

nna

her tone suddenly distant. Go t

call before

the streetlamps, the rustle of leaves, the rhy

e, then sighed and sli

Always trying to fi

And when she blinked, her eyes burned fai

t for one porch light flickering near her gate. She fished her keys out,

he quiet, a little too l

e a blanket, and suddenly the air felt heavy. She kicked off h

d the silence. You'll reg

her fists. "Neve

er chest, a small, unwanted pang of guilt, or maybe lonel

untamed. But behind the smudged eyeliner and p

rself. You're fin

he didn't

her couch, staring at the ceiling, her mind spinning b

mit it yet, she is not sure i

yed her laughter in his mind that strange, carele

uldn't explain how, but he felt it

ised himself, he

ye and understand what was hap

's not the case he said to himself. He con