In His World

na

wrong with it before I realized what it was. There was nothing personal here, nothing that said a real person

m or maybe a prison cell d

aid from behind me. "I'll ge

e to do that."

er used to say before she left." He walked past me toward what I assu

nd cold like everything else in this apartment. The windows looked out over the city just like

ded it to me, then sat down in the chair across the room like

you,"

re we

ank it anyway because I needed something to

h time here." He r

our time?" I asked be

s when I can't sleep." He leaned back in the chair. "This

lonely." I re

effi

the mug down on the nightstand. "Do

k about it."

not an

ike he'd been tired for years and just got good at hiding it. "I don't kno

hing ma

is arms. "You should drin

nk, just held it and felt the warmth seepi

going to

your moth

"She left because my father made her miserable and she couldn't take it anymore,

ever co

ys sometimes but that's it." He looked away. "My father told us she was weak for leaving and tha

ible thing to

e and I both learned not to ne

"Because from where I'm sitting it loo

is engaged

me." I pulled my knees up to my chest. "And you're married to a stranger who lo

be done to secure the c

all you care abo

s face change, saw something flicker in his eyes

what I asked

he window, looked out at the city with his back to me. "You s

er hav

used

t Sophia had written in her letter, about how Adrian had made her feel invisi

d around

." I wrapped my arms around my knees. "Everyone else just says they're sorry for my loss

and sat in the ch

an talk a

He settled back like he was prepar

she kept a sachet in her pocket to cover up the medical smell. I told him about my dad who taught history at a secondary

ng and my dad would pretend it was delicious anyway. About holidays at the seaside where m

stressed about money and my dad could be stubborn about stupid things,

nice." Adra

where they're not here anymore." My voice cracked. "I keep forgetting th

then he said, "What did you want

mean?" I aske

what were you planning to do with your life?" He leaned forward s

wiped my eyes. "I loved books and stories and I thought maybe I could help other

still do that

don't have time for dreams anymore." I looked at him.

ot fair."

y." I took a breath. "What a

repeated like he did

came everything?" I watched his face car

idering whether to answer, whether to let m

ha

and making things." He ran his hand through his hair. "My father said it was useless and would

ou st

ything my father wanted me to learn and I haven't picked up a

aint?" I asked him, ign

use wanting things just leads to disappointment." He stood up again like he coul

where he was standing by the windo

prac

the exhaustion in his eyes, the lines around his mouth that c

m f

ave to pretend with me." I took a breath

e asked me, confusio

hings other people expect from us." I touched his arm. "We're stuck with each

ing on his arm and I thought he was going to

tired a

." He stepped back and my hand fell away. "Use t

ria

e can figure everythi

clothed and pulled the covers up. The sheets smelled like him, like expen

e the next thing I knew the room was darker and Adrian

nd my voice was

?" He

ut and caught his hand. "Please, just sleep, nothi

t not moving and I could feel him t

eas

n I felt the bed dip on the other side and he laid down on t