our later, as I sat al

lian' s fine, just dramatic a

like a twist

ned. Her focus was,

apers. Not tonight. Mayb

ed my

lly, I star

ked genuinely happy, usually at some

calendar invites for anniv

nsing, each click a s

ith it, but mostly, a s

ing

on popped up

an V

e together in a dimly lit bar. The caption: "Some nig

nting me.

etached. He was a caricatur

re was so obvious, ye

walked in, looking tired b

small, slightly sq

You're s

ed. I hadn' t

said, a small, hesit

rthday. She'

r myself, a quiet dinner she was suppos

ng warm, quickly ext

, when she' d shown these

when I was working late. A

that had fed m

ust reflexes of a perso

now. The confusion

charity aucti

ud argument with another gue

his defense, fie

like that! You're m

g. It made the gossip columns – "Ava

s, seeing that ferocity, that

had been a cold wa

as the woman who defended another ma

ar, on this very

a quiet dinner.

led. A panic at

me, her eyes pleadi

Ethan. He rea

le

the birthday ca

eyes and m

dn' t love

t painful wish

offering another belated birthday wish, I knew t

ent was alm