WEEK

ly filled the silence of Isabella's new l

her small apartment. The warm smell of books going up fro

turned on the faucet, the pipe creaked, the furniture was used and th

tching her

bed waiting f

Nol

tened her sweater around her shoulder. In a c

pting to forget were all she had brought. She had abandoned golden chandelier

ve felt like

r, it

left, the pain in her chest was still there. Like a brui

d up her bag. As she walked to the bakery, the crisp m

re la

Isabella crept inside. Her hands were dusted with fl

bella countered, smilin

a street where locals gathered every morning. The bell above the door j

he fact that she had once burned the first batch of croissants, spilled coffee on customer's leg and even mixed up orders. Bu

lling out a batch of dough. She had changed appearance. Apart from the faint shadow

d good in

d into the oven and turned to her.

ed, glancing

her apron to w

alked in here, you looked like you

s chest t

Maybe I was just look

agreed, u

is, you're strong

nted to bel

eally

. By the time the bakery slowed, her arms ached, and flour dusted her ha

ned to the street. She felt the gentle embrace of the ocean b

ually be able

ged her temples. Her body was exhausted from yet another long

was always moving, waking up early, and spending late nights

have bee

e collapsed onto her bed. Sleep overpowered

oken by a sudden

, barely making it to the bathroom. She leaned over t

ath, but the sickness went aw

her forehead, wiped her mouth an

omethin

wn, somethi

ning, it hap

orning af

ame nausea, the same unbearable dizziness that left her

uring t

in the

her mind and a chill

o

back of her mind and pushed it away.

pped the bathroom sink and g

was a

-

he sat at the corner of the pharmacy parking lot.

he grabbed one, she had passed the test walkway three times. She avoided th

They don't know you

ar, she stared at the

sn't r

had to

apartment, she sat on the e

ested on t

e couldn't bring

to her palms. She alr

he turned

ink l

f blood in her ears. The

swallowing hard. No. T

oof was ri

's ch

e had run, thinking she could escape him

ld never tr

the faster. As if seeking comfort, she put a

r phone

throat as she flinched.

she picked it up

red over the d

ould make up her mind.Then, before s

e able to hide for a long time

ood ra

was. She had used cash, changed

someone had

ow, the only answer to

name still carried power, Nolan Sinclair f