Four – F

pening the car door

even slowing my pace as I walked away, my

always wore like armor. Then I heard the car door slam shut and the engine rev. A moment later, the s

like we're characters in some soap opera, and the next he's playing chauf

e a weight I couldn't shake. The city seemed colder tonight, the wind biting at my skin through the thin fabric o

themselves like an avalanche in my head. By the time I reached my apartment, I was bone-deep tired. Not just physi

edth time. His offer. The contract. My signature. And the look in

had I

the treatment she needed. No more late bills, no more agonizing over mone

ifted to sleep, holding onto the one

-

, but apparently I'd turned it off in my sleep. Classic. I scrambled out of b

lling on a pair of jeans. I grabbed my bag, stuffed a few things ins

l felt oddly invigorating. I made it to the bus stop just in time,

nd winding dirt roads. There was something about leaving the city that always made me feel lighter, like I cou

I glanced down to see a te

you're back. We have a

locking the screen and tossing the phone b

ran down the hill, my boots kicking up pebbles as I went. The trees here still had hints o

, wrapped in a knitted shawl, her s

, her voice warm an

. She smelled like rosemary and chamomile-the same way she had since I was

you so much,"

it's about time you came to visit. I th

e part-and she told me about the neighbors, the garden, and the birds that had started nesting by the window again. W

s life in her eyes. Hope. And

ift from orange to deep purple, I glan

't feel right... but you knew it

tea. "All the time," she said. "Those a

spond. I di

r, watching her sleep. The lines on her face were deeper now.

ded in my bag, and stared at the signature on the bottom. My nam

two years? Would I

into the envelope. I wasn't sure what the f

-

st, and the strawberry jam she loved. We ate in companionable silence

leave, she hugged

," she sa

h my throat tig

view like a wave crashing down, reality waiting to reclaim

Tonight. 7 PM

nd. Instead, I leaned my head aga

gned. My fate was tied t

till had one las