ia's

and I couldn't figure out why. Just as I was abo

k my head when I remembered the way he'd looked at me out

y eyes flew open. "What?

o, no

o way! This is

hy would I wake up thinking about

supposed to use. They were supposed to be t

rule: feelings only complicated

long, and staying too long was danger

playing a kiss like some tee

my palm against my forehead. My phone buzzed o

"Good morning, Amelia.

g ridiculous, something

few seconds before forcing

self toge

ed for the bathroom. Unfortun

and preparing content for In

expecting anyone. An

riosity, so I walked to

h an enormous bouquet of white roses be

bert?" The

es

a delivery

could that be, not expecting

. The bouquet was so large I

My heart started to beat fast. I

entre of attention. You walk into a room and

handwriting, not a text, not a Whats

ctedly warm sett

elivery man cleared his throat.

ked. "

made my eyes widen. I carefully opened it to see a de

ss my thoughts. I'd received expensive gifts b

actional; this one felt different

made it d

at I liked it far

well to the delivery man excitedly an

arefully and picked up the phone. I

red imm

ling?" she asked suspiciously,

aren't ordinary, or like you have someone w

teen years. So I can."

then at the handbag; my smile

ed loudly.

t is

ke him,

n't like anybod

do, just b

ue, then stopped. I know

softly. "Just be ca

ht now, I didn't want caution; I wanted to

do this tod

over the ph

ck, okay? Let me

things. Today was chemotherapy

ceiving flowers f

sual with patients, their families, and doctors

immediately replaced whatever fan

life; Mom was already

of her hair, but her smile

She said

ds around her and hugged her c

e somebody beat m

hed. "

d joke about

We talked about ordinary things: neighbours, church

she looked a

is it?" I

ngly. "You're ha

kipped. "N

urse y

plea

ing since you arr

way. Unfortunately, th

is somebody;

d, "Mom,

definite

; she looked so healthy again, like can

painfully; moments like th

eached across and

er he

to her as

s you look

e she was right, but t

without next month's rent, no hospital payments and no escape p

st laughed at myself. Amelia Robert

d shattered instantly. I pulled the phone fro

t. The moment I read the words, al

ho your n

enator

urned cold