U

n't feel li

red closing them. For a few secon

y over. But my body still hadn

e bed, expecting to feel Jasper's muscu

asn't mine. It was a hotel suite Joe had insist

ace or memory that w

rehead, and no tears came anymo

there was

omething uneasy shift inside me. I

interrupted

s Qu

rom outsi

courthouse will be re

was the paperwork confirming it. I st

iliar. All I saw was a pale face, tired eyes, and cracked li

time, then picked up a comb

perwork, I would at least show up

d. People moved around with purpose, files in

fficial looked

said quickly, then softe

was talking to me until sh

ightly, "Hi!" I wav

s sounded like, but that lit

urtroom. My fingers tightened around t

t need to look up to know who it was. The air

f this. Like he was arriving for another bu

felt unsettled; it wasn't

en looked away immediately. I was already

away, I follo

dramatic and less emotional. Too good for some

tures were exchanged and stamps placed. I signed fi

I was too strong, but because I

ut hesitation or pause. He d

. Three years reduced to si

s a thirty-day cooling-off period. Either pa

ed. Thirty day

in smoothly. "That

"You are confiden

"You are not the type to

ugh his expression. But I knew i

re so

Don't make this harder th

then?" I a

en tension. The official cleared his throat aw

nued moving. People laughed. Phones ra

easily from things tha

outside was colder now. He didn't look back, not

l the silence. I hel

e anything now,"

ed slowly. "We are pa

words affected me, bu

Good,"

turned. That was when I saw her. Seraphina.

around her. She smile

alled gently. "

h care. "You shouldn't be standing o

rs to hear that ki

toward me. "You are

d, then leaned close enou

hought he wou

didn't feel like a question anymore. It fel

uld be grateful to

be clinging to a man wh

smiled when I didn't answer. But bef

ven while he was with me, he never look

s nearly gave out. She smi

her name sof

ck air. I stood there for a long moment, watching t

nd me broke

rli

fore realizing the strang

rang. Joe. I picke

" I said

ivorce, Jasper d

lowed. "What

next words cha

na is pr