he bedsheet before his sleepy v

re aw

him to wake up so soon. Her eyes rem

om his, fast but careful not t

rd her hand, catching the smal

d, wiping his palm across his face in an

vier than usual-especially for two people who used to be all over

awkward throat-cl

trying to sound ca

a second, then spoke i

ok like

omfort a woman in crisis," she

d morning

rept across his face, then d

your

I got run ove

ch is ex

d and picked up a glass of water and a strip

t, then at him,

alrea

er toward her. "Take i

he had prepared for her, guilt hit harder than expected. She had spent ha

u," she s

tact as much as possible. Even after she lowere

eshen up," she said, her ey

ed once.

the bed, instant regret hit as a h

ogether slightly. "Y

e," she respon

ond longer, like he knew she was lyin

her face from his gaze and ru

behind her, she exhaled hard and

he mirror, her ey

and splashed cold wa

," she muttered

, her mind always dragged her back to the same details-the steadi

op

the shower knob before her t

owly ran down her skin, h

e rang continuously

ntle teasing in his words, and even the date

yes beneath the

ng suddenly feel

ued her, but she had no answers, even by

om door open and step

sto

empty and qui

g was left slightly creased, the blanket fold

room, but only a small folded note res

over and pi

ing was simp

out, somet

ablet if your hea

on you la

ng it and crashing onto the bed. The

bed and dragged a

muttered und

oked at the

on you la

ne, remembering the date she ha

aped her as her fingers t

he whispere

nk I'll be h

*

te of the Royalty

hattered against the wall. Chairs were knocked over, an

she circled furiously around the ro

e said loudly, with n

nd replayed that night over and ov

n spoke to her. The way people started judging her in si

tears like usual. Acting all weak

s breathin

ug hard int

She slowly picked up a fr

tly where she belonged-quiet

door, and Stephanie instan

me

d in hesitantly, the same waitress from bef

you call

e. She slowly walked toward the waitress, her st

n front of her. Her face

t made the waitress r

er han

L

ed sharply thr

ideways before falling h

in shock, already

ownward, her face

simple job," s

ess's lip

'am,

ade me look like a jok

rry, ma

held less humor than cruelty. "Do you kno

instantly. She tried speaking,

ice was low, but carried so much venom. "But instead, you stood

s shoulders s

rry, ma

ped her hand into her purse, pulled out a thick fol

ly. "A lowlife like you clearl

icked up each scattered note without saying another wor

hut softly

middle of the room, her bre

toward the mirror, simply l

t, she simply st

er mascara was slightly smudged. Her hair w

murmured softly

es dar

e of yours lasts." She smiled. "Let's s

*

me day was as vibran

bright golden lights and s

e restaurant, one hand slightly tucked into h

en minutes-not because Anna wa

come to

ed back into a ponytail. He drew a few glances without tr

gain, then almost imm

adjusted the sleeve of his shirt

ll to large groups. Their laughter and fo

of them

rose once more, probably f

wonder if she would actually come... o

n the distance

e pavement, the evening lights catching sof

ully, his breath go

as A

tly adjusting the strap of her purse as the

ted attention, and yet she looked so be

ith the wind. Her outfit was simple yet be

round as though l

met, both starin

ving casually at him as

til she stood right in front of him, br

es fi

ched toward the entrance as she l