an began to sense th

calm-so calm it

soup warm. She stopped updating him on every detail of Vanessa's care. Even wh

d him more than her o

re he couldn't see, was

e a detour on his way home and bought the shop's signature strawberry

red Vaness

frowned, thinking for a momen

s followed hi

he liked s

day... I should've told you in advance. I just thought the wedding couldn't happen without photos of the bride and

essert-the strawberries bright

And she hated the bitter

ght home a Black Forest cake. She had forced herself to f

bly forgotte

ll take you to do a proper wedding shoot. Then we'll go on a trip. Didn't you alwa

gers tremble

auro

ad mentioned long ag

ing he had p

membe

ds nearly slipping out-she mi

glanced at it, his expression changing

"What happened? Is Vanessa feeling unwell

elyn, "Vanessa has a slight fever and isn't stable. I

speaking, he was al

s all he r

elyn called

hand still on the doorknob,

distant-and at the concern in his eyes for a

she hated sweets

one who was sick

dy knew t

nd, that was all she s

as if he hadn't expected that. He gave

ff all sound. The room f

cake box. The sweet sce

astic spoon, scooped a bit

it made her s

ntly over the toilet, until what came up was

sink, turning on the tap, watch

r eyes were sunke

n't ma

thou

ys. It would