e phone out like it burned her fingers. "I don't

ady playing, the volume low, but not low enough. Not low enough to stop the words from r

ray T-shirt, sitting on the edge of an unfamiliar bed, and there was a woman's shoulder visible just at the ed

tting down something heavy he'd been carrying too long. "I can't do this. I should ha

nced sideways at whoever was beside him, and kept tal

you need someone who wants the same things you want. Family, all

ing Aurora couldn't make out. Felix h

t to Aurora anymore

ike whoever sent it had simply gotten

itioning and the distant murmur of two hundred guests who had no ide

voice came out steady, which surprised her, bec

or said. "I don't know who from. I'm so sorry, Aurora, I

her, because the coordinator didn't seem able to. "Befor

ltar. In front of everyone." The coordinator's e

a said quietly. "Thank

tter if you let go too fast. She looked at her own reflection in the mirror one more time ..... veil pinned just right,

d of moment that called for tears, but her eyes stayed dry and hot instead, like something in her had simply locke

this time she didn't bother pretending her smile was real. He

said. "I swear to you, A

omeone?" Aurora asked. Her vo

topped herself, and that stopping s

said. "Or you mean you

eemed distracted. I asked him about it once, and he said it was just wedding nerves, and I....." She pressed

Aurora said. "I never

linched like she

who had once hugged her tight and told her you're one of us now backed out

pple of confusion moving through the guests as word began to spread. A

rs that pulled away without her, again and again, unti

ore thing that happened to her

of her dress out of habit, though t

ix's phone was always face-down now, when it never used to be. The late nights he blamed work. The way he'd stopped finishing his sente

w, something with edges. She welcomed it. An

it herself, before anyone else could come in and del

aces and lowered voices and eyes that slid away from her the moment she appeared. Someone's cousin was already on t

inute where no one was watching

linens, until she found a quiet stretch of corridor with a fire door propped open to th

buzzed i

y text trying to explain himself further. But the number on the scre

e instinct, some old, careful

swered

el

arms rise. And then a voice she knew instantly, unmistakab

out slowly, like she was savoring it. "I