t in the doorway

... clean. Sp

missed in here, streamed through the freshly w

oom, hesitant, wearing his old gr

r. She looked... different

t settled in his gu

s voice still cold, gesturing v

tching the hem of h

aid softly. "I wanted t

leave again, retreat

entative ste

huge mess. But I' m not that person anymore.

is expression unrea

"Your appearance has cha

refrigerator. It was clean too, and surprisingly st

nk a clean house and a shower are

hope. "Get out of my clothes

. She reached out, her f

listen to me. I can

y from her touc

cuses, Sarah. You' ve always got an expl

ult, a summary of all

her hand dropp

mistrust, were like a phy

een erratic, but she hadn't understo

ood how much Brenda ha

loud, embarrassing rumb

tified. She hadn

wisted into a

you've spent the day cleaning instea

when she' d forgotten to eat, or spent grocery money on

rted, but he was a

the base. We'll talk ab

ing her alone in the suddenl

than she thought. He was so deeply entre

e had "woken up" sooner, before he' d

the door ma

doorstep, a sickly sweet s

heck on you. Mike looked so ups

ke' s clothes. A flicker of something ugly – jealousy? – cr

ing his old things? Doesn't he

harp, saw through Bre

no friend. Sh

touching her own lips. "Come in,

r eyes immediately cata

ou. Playing Suzy

know, Brenda, my memory has b

tered slightly. "Oh

sorts of things. Like all those times you 'helped' me. Loaning me mo

to buy expensive, useless items, "su

w 'flighty' and 'irresponsible' I was becoming. Funny how of

just trying to be a good friend, S

was like ice. "Or were you trying

ys did have a thing for him, didn

acked. "You' re delusi

"Get out of my house, Brenda. And

y unnerved. She saw a new strength in Sara

ou'll regret this, Sarah. Mike

aid quietly as Brenda practically fl

s retreating figure, a sudden, col

n't give up

official-sounding knock

a stern-faced man in a

h Mil

es

everal accounts are severely delinquent. We're talking thousands of dollars, ma'

m, her blood runni

ons" had been more damagin