A

e desk. The sound cracked thr

eliver a better concept in thr

sonal attorney. Childhood friend. The only person who

him, leaving a silence that

oked lines, warping the skyline beyond. I pressed b

am I even do

n the darkness. The way she looked yesterday. Tha

d with the hospital acquisition. She gave a presentation at a

y, guiding her to the pharmacy, covering the child's m

nd she covered my drink with a polite smile before disa

with me longer than

into her background for professional reasons. That was the

s and awards, cold reminders of everything I had built.

hing, and so

Mutual agreements. Momentary desires. They were transactions of convenience, no

Something rooted in authenticity and mutual

wasn't something anyone could fake. It was som

I was ou

al, the next win. Telling myself ther

rned int

Sofi

The one I never made space for. Becau

s marrying

ven a footnote

hed her. Never as

her to

bed my

he car. We're goi

oing to st

last time. Say goodbye, even

till streaked from earlier rain. The downpour had eased into a light drizzle, sof

n a steady, dull rhythm. Told myself this wa

en reached the c

ging around her. Her shoulders were curled inward, her arms wrapped tight acros

eath

l ov

didn't h

eed you

he said, already re

etails once we'r

d lingering. No longer punishing. Just quiet. She didn't see me at

eps, careful n

of

used. Empty. She d

. I'm not part of her

ed. Her voice cra

der than I

gently. "Can I take

e shaking, soaked to the skin, t

ers had stopped. Some po

ing in the midd

eone I can ca

ook he

" Her voice cracked again.

ulled tight

pressure. Just somewhere qu

g. To the ground. To the street. She was s

she wh

d placed it around her sh

d in slowly, curled into herself,

e and nodded. Alread

ak. Didn't look at me. But somehow,

ne buzzed with messages and confirmations. I r

ep in my coat. Her br

know who I

going to lo

this

mind that might ch

O

Rain slid down my face, mixing with the tears I had stopped trying to h

ng to say. The fabric clung tighter, heavy with water

ose, a car d

oked

down the lines of his suit. He moved like the rain didn't touch him. People on the sid

thread. His expression stayed unreadable, but something in his eyes caught

nough to leave space, close enough th

ely louder than the r

der than I expe

he know

him, trying to place the face, so

ord tore its way out. I

me like he was trying to figure

s low and careful. "Can I

t cinch

him. I shou

d the weight of the soaked dress was unbearable. Everything that

be here. I don't

e was no rush in him, no demand. Only somethin

I whispered. My voi

ointed. Others whispered. The pi

They can see

didn't

t me. But if you want out of this, just for a while, I can h

mind. The thought of hearing h

her see me

where to go." The words barel

ened. He didn

have to talk. You don't even have to explain. I just want

hing in me started to settle as if it was okay

ight,"

stepped forward and eased it over my shoulder

lean. His cologne, maybe. It reminded me of the woo

he car door

rough the silk, but I barely felt it. I curled into myself, still holding

a word. The door clicked shut,

ty slipped past in streaks of light and water. I didn't ask where we w

d on his phone, his whole body still. He typed with a

hum of the road and the rhythm of the rain