us asks once we get the st

d the best deal we could find on two days' short notice. Besides, it will be only a temporary resid

t's only temporary-but

puts down a box of kitchen utilities he w

weat that coats them. He's only wearing a blue T-shirt and jeans. I'm

to admire a fr

event. Skylight Novels & Publishing is going to celebra

ut Ben?" He looks up from

t love how he cares

it's fine. She's bringing her kids there as well; so Ben would be saf

else, but I suppose that's just a mother's intuit

nd wipes the sweat from his forehead. He replaces a few other boxes

acks of boxes we've brought. However, curiosity fills my brain when I see a brown parc

me to guess who'd send an unnamed parcel to me. But what li

dealing with

any details once more. But it's just my n

yself and decide to open it. My fingernails hover close to the tape and tak

wild scream silences

the contents of the parcel spill out. My he

n't hear him, but soon enough, I feel a protective set of arms wra

s still horrend

ot away from the heinou

my surroundings. Only then do I find out that the snak

ngs me halfway across the hall. With gr

frozen; which is why the shame of Marcus's nu

ith the back of my hands. I can't fo

resh shower and soap on him and

self off and runs away to put on his clothing. When I see him re

ous terror that's still lying on my floor. Marcus kne

don't think I can handle it. Whoever sent

g. In hopes of providing ease to my fearful mind, I close

I open my eyes and see Marcus stand befor

nize it. "A threa

n has some serious

want to tell me. Thinking that it couldn't get any worse, I sneak

before stealing other

ymous account that bullied an

s ago, a person online started accusing me of plagiarism and defaming me. I reported he

ything from him aga

t to have your beauty sleep before the event, right?"

onger, those words might st

to mine, I sneak inside Ben's bed and under his quilts. I peck him on the head and fall asleep curled up be

**

not used to dresses." I ask Marc

to be fancy and I don't want to be an outcast. But wearing six-in

nes our arms as we make our way to the celebration. And it isn't a roma

booked rooms. She has security watching over the kid

as we enter. It's a rich people's party, as I've assumed. But in my black maxi w

ublishing will be here tonight. Marcus needs to

boss. Then she returns to me and takes me to meet her co-workers and friends. We t

gedies are widespread in terms of e-b

py endings. Their life is tragic enoug

ppointedly. And I wouldn't expect anything else from a devoted employee and also s

cus, I, too, would p

comes from behind me and it

one. No one is chatting in the entire hall and the music has dim

ple in his surroundings. Someone who takes control

tinues and footsteps approach our circle. Everyone gets

ay his empty glass to one server. And just when I think he wouldn't recognize

oss his face with, what I can assume is, a wicked intention

person, but my lips freeze in pl

round my skin and then fix on my fac

a long time

than his actual words. And this time too, I end up nodding lik

ind if I whisk her away f

efore anyone can oppose him. Not that it was goi

s I keep turning back to find any trace of Marcus. Denzel doesn't stop j

he's appalled. His back has been facing me for some time, but when he turns ar

ng on my mind is that I