e underground garage o

, for once, walked around to open

that seafood place you lov

vator. His palm was warm, yet it could not

e living room, his phone rang

sugary love song Sophie had on

, released my hand, an

hie? What

readed with a nervousness even h

ted from the other

out at my place. I'm scared of the

ession change

sitation flickering

here you are. I'm

ck to the entryway to g

hie. The old district lost power, a

rationality while c

here. Don't wait up for me. I'll

uth, he suddenly turned around a

ng to pull me into his arms or ruffle my hair,

ed my hair, I tilted my head away na

r. Just a quiet retrea

became a distan

clearly saw his hand freeze awkwardly in mid

little, I would obediently lean closer for his

, I stepp

miliar panic cros

stomach was hurting again, but Sophie's sobbing conve

inside him, he forced himself to relax, w

d again at the door. Without turning back, he lowered

is shoes and smiled faintly as I

Drive s

orway for ten full seconds without even touching the handle

stood the

ed the door shut and

at if I stopped chemotherapy, I probably

y planned to te

aniel's assistant de

vere stomach hemorrhage pulling all-nighters to finish one of

rgotten c

d, walked into the kitchen, and

ogether, just like the wholehearted love I

lers into my palm and swallo

down my throat, but by the

ntment. At some point, even disappoi