each other's company. The sound of their laughter echoed faintly in her ears, almost like a distant memory

ks in the

long

had Michael c

ven a

en a m

ld happen, yet it still hurt more than she could bear. It wasn't just the absen

it to her stood a few steps away, watching her with quiet concern. They had noticed the way her hands

d her head and d

elt heavier

stance, as though that alone would give her strength. Her heart p

. just t

ck

hael's voice came through

caught in

er voice shaky but desperate. "Let's talk this through

rief pause on

he hea

man's

r in the wors

heart sank

ld without warning. "What part of 'it's over' don't you unders

froze co

gn

ad never signed anything. No papers had been

how

ely holding together. "I know this isn'

in," he cut in sharply. "If

ne wen

, Charlotte

if it might somehow come back to life, as if h

hing ha

hand dropped

he phone, forcing herself to speak. "Thank y

pity in their expressions was enou

d away and retu

didn't try to

cheeks. She didn't sob, didn't make a sound-she just sat

around her fe

ck

d was moving

self, but it was useless. The weight in her chest o

inning to attract, Charlotte stood up

d into a stall and lock

en she

st the walls of the small space. She pressed her hand agains

held back for wee

pa

umili

betr

me to che

e kno

time... she didn't

used t

g al

g ig

left b

dn't know how many. T

subsided, replaced by

later, Charlotte step

xpression had changed. The pain was still there, but it

d water on her face. She stared at her reflection for a lon

' she told her

ve to

one else she

who would

ed a small smile-one that didn't q

rther from where she had been before. This time, she kept her distan

d the coup

, leaned into one another like

er a while, a faint, sad

never

even

in the

lo,

ked, startled,

traight, her expression calm, and her eyes unusu

e alone?" th

tated, then no

gh she could see through every layer Cha

eart broken, didn't

tte st

ow

oman replied simply. "And

ortable. "I'm not interested

n chuckl

offering

owned slight

ring you

d. "What d

small step closer

y my

at her, certain

ha

e woman continued calmly. "Just

mall, disbelieving la

. Why would I jump i

eaction. Instead, she looked at her mor

this will destroy yo

otte

deeper than

he shook

t inter

ping her bag tight

ersation

this woman was offering her another ma

ed to wa

" the woman said

tte st

eps fa

'll pa