er her clothes, and it left her with goosebumps and her head swelling from overthinking. It was a few minutes past 5 pm by that time and tha

h she could feel a strange peace, it hit her somehow that such peace had not come without a p

ing, so the sound of its thud on the

and moved around a bit, trying to find a positive ground

aby, I'm

st time, it seemed to be a bother. She called on Alethia again and listened in, not quit

hundering up the stairs. She halted to catc

tly and slowly, placed the side of he

eth

ordered. Alethia had spread her bed as if it was the last time she would be sleeping on it. When Emily checke

t left her feeling like a crazy woman, and it was then that she couldn't keep her tea

to the living room. On a thought she wanted to report her daught

uld head to, but choosing the right direction was taking a toll on her. She inhaled deeply and held her forehe

een better, she admitted. Now she had to look for

*

a small purse. And her order had already been brought before she realized that she doesn't eve

g okay?" the

the house, she couldn't believe that she forgot to bring some cash. Her

raightened up. "I'm sorr

rrying the order back to he

orry,

an I pay y

h as I'd like to h

reminded her stomach of the hunger, and it rather became more discomforting to bear. She wa

when she heard a man approach the counter and ask how much was he

. He was tall and manly with broad shoulders. She surmised he visits th

n Alethia hadn't seen a man as handsome as that as well. His face was purposeful, like a man who could only get one thing done at a time, so he wasn't looking a

ing her stomach was more important than any shame. She admitted it was kind of th

irl's bills. The more she thought about his reaction towards her, the more she got furious. There was something about him that pissed her off. She could feel herself being pulled to him the way s

him. He smiled condescendingly,

know that?" she watched his face as he squeezed it.

ips. And those lips were very attractive. He smiled so well that Alethia felt seeing him smile could make anyo

anything to dr

ately offered her his jui

rry," h

outright at h

ve snubbed you

he knew what he did wrong? He mu

hat pu

rdo

proach you instead? That must

ave other ways to char

to her. She could feel how easy it was to talk to him and to connect with him. She was sure

ourself attractiv

ou let me show you the other way I have to charm a woman? Who knows, I might j

ake of her life? He was offering a hand, and for some reasons unknown to her, she couldn't res

fered comfort. She didn't know when her head moved forward, but she knew when she placed her head on his chest, the warmth strangely felt like home. The last she'd felt this comfort

nt. Once reality hits her, she jumps away from hi

you o

d was head bent on utilizing it at every chance. Even she knew this, and it drew her to

g?" he asked as h

even though he was asking her to. She didn't k

knew. So maybe she was running away, away from home and from

when she heard the sound of an empty beverage ri

missed."

ha

uck, the can landed on her head. While she was confu

ve hurt," he

speratedly. "You m

his time she was able to duck. Then she picked a can as well and threw it at him.

th now?" she

asted for a few seconds until they were both tired. Then while she sat

offering her the ice cream. She couldn't figure out how he knew th

u run away?" He

a seer or did have some kind of pow

how

ious that you ain't a traveler, and you not being able to pay for your

weighing her heart down. He peered his eyes to be sure that he was concerned about her, but the l

on replacing my dad,

at did he have to

wouldn't b

read her countenance. Once he'd caught

didn't…" She i

's fi

regrets she'd had, but because they were things of the past that can't be fixed into the future, it t

ven months, and she's alr

ith caution now. "Maybe

to face him, and

must have h

been seeing this new man long before Dad died. She m

atred, but underneath everything, he could feel the love she had for her mother.

uldn't have planned for losing your dad, and now she had to be there for you while being there for herself at t

e more she could feel the relief that was sweeping over her. By the time she

d do that,

n?" she was s

beautiful whe

wave inside her, and it was th

nk y

d and leaned sideways to

playful,"

ar. We live longer by chance. The best we can do is

Have I told you you're suc

't be the first tim

eave as well. She would have said no to him offering her some cash for her bus far

d darn her self dignity that she couldn't tell him outright that she didn't wan

en she wasn't expectin

g will be

deeply to forget it immediately. She could already feel that their encounter wasn'

, by the way

led. "

would be hearing that name the same day. But this Ethan didn't strike her as her would-be stepfather. He

she said to herself. By then he was gone, and s

rest. He was nowhere to be found, and now she wondered if he did exist.

e'll always