han

ARS L

ET CE

ly breathing, eyes closed, trying to conjure

g the cold stone with trembling fingers. I

a flower." I whispered, pla

n the other side. Don't go anywh

nk into me, pulling me dow

his would be it. My life, once bursting with

I held dear. The success I'd found in business felt hollow, a counterfeit com

a gentle plop. "I'm so sorry, Jason. I never thought..

red in my mind. Now all I had was this stone and t

g for the moment when I'd face the man who

uickly as it came, replaced by a crushing

k of him here, no

et wiping my tears. "I owe you an apology, love. I'm sorry I c

ce broke. "If I'd seen you

ence, the atmosphere fill

and saw that I had an hour to my m

to leave, a voice be

e'd want y

Dean, my business associate, whom I had

tal type, but he was the close

forced a smile, though

e, soft and knowing.

are you doing here? Our meeting's

hands in his pockets. "Let's just say my ancest

shaking my head. "You didn

grave. "I know what it's like to los

"Fighter or not, it still feels like l

kets, before offering gently, "If today isn't a goo

ickly, more for

head to the restaurant.

ingering a moment befor

my car. I spun around, ready to shout, but the words died in my throat as I saw her-Chantel. The w

r, but she strode towards me, her heels crunching over the icy ground

city was

, feigning surprise. "Betha

I'm not interested in small talk, Chantel.

once-over. "Still single, are we? It must be

shot back, my v

to someone who wears

d. "Oh, Bethany, still the same defensiv

still remembers you, you know

m my face as she kept talk

aged. You're invited to the party." She held out he

t care about you or him. You

e sighed, pretendin

u can't blame me for taking

d to keep contained. I stepped forward

lap her, Dean was th

the fog of anger, grounding me, and I t

victory. "So easy to rile you

oulder, and I allowed him t

elling, " Chantel...you said you wanted to say hi,

ted, walking back

than

d Fred, " I sa

see no reason why you sho

en't you supposed to be here grieving for your dead so

eth

been two years so it won't be immature to take revenge on you now. I'm bei

efore heading to my car b

go to school... my

heart pounding, and saw a small boy with fa

, the ground seeming

before I could speak, he hurried Jason away. The shoc

port. "That's... that was my son," I murmured, br