eks

against her skin as she scrolled through a movie on her phone. Just as t

her old scho

y a year since graduation, but it already feels like f

ght... they mentio

, she mutt

? a voice tea

ped, standing to hug her sister. Y

parents' house? Tina joked as

ally, what are you

rmer classmates from

Tina raised an eyebro

really liked me. Always isolating me... till graduation. Onl

her cheek before

pping her arms around her. Y

dded si

recruitment interviews, Tina said, changing the subje

u did, Anna

orehead, and stood. Take

in, tears she'd been holding back returned. Eventually,

****

. At Alexan

pplicants? she said to her assi

candidate

he did, her exp

me

le... this fool wants to work und

confidently and re

o sit without perm

widened in sudden real

coldly. We don't hire selfish, immature boys

tion creeping into his voice.

destroyed my sister over your fooli

this is professi

t, she

mes muttered dar

That N

n liquor. Glass after glass. His hands tr

It's Anna. The one she lo

ith rage. His eyes

et ever mes

***

as the

it. What was the point? Her high school memories weren't exactly gold

Hold your head high and show them you're

ed something in her. May

licate A line cut that danced around her knees. She slipped into white kitten heels and combed her hair into a low ponytail,

in the mirror. She look

en she

**

ady filled with laughter, music, and the loud cheers

ere hailed in with dramatic

Anna wa

le

rned... and tu

voice ackno

omach

oss the polished floor. She headed for the back row, choosing the la

waiting for his sister Emily. He hadn't planned to stay

ard the hu

n he lo

eath c

God... oh my God, he found hims

one who turned him down. The one who did

n

warm greetings. Everyone simply t

him little

t quietly, eyes low, the faintest

completely forgetti

asn't just staying

cause fate had broug

ped her off at the occasion and decid

phone, hands mo

aled

ang

pick