A Heart Misplaced, A Love Bone-Deep

exhausted, a box of m

but instead of restin

seen at the hospital, the home that o

ated. It was V

today. I got you a present." Vivian's voice was

lara felt her chest tighten, l

before she could answer,

ara had once trusted her completely, treated

t, it had only made things e

s wrong. The moment she saw Clara, she s

urving with warmth. "Going all out just to shop with me? You

said n

s voice, full of emotion, saying, "You're the only one I've ever loved." Vivian

soned needle, piercing the

trusted most, Clara felt like

let Vivian pull he

e, Vivian led her strai

orever picking t

emstone bracelet, its pendant shaped like a tiny crescent moo

a fr

had once said in pa

her company until dawn. Looking out the window, she had said, "If someone could

orgotten it. V

ned the bracelet gently around her wrist, her eyes shining. "H

le of emotions tore at her hear

birthdays had never been anything mor

busy entertaining guests. The staff would bring out the cake. Clara wou

he wanted. No one ever r

l she me

art-time jobs to buy Clara an out-o

uneven stitches and all, yet it had k

little moments together and ma

hing else, there was at least one pers

always shine for her was secretly planni

g my birthday." Clara spoke sof

y. "I also ordered your favorite chestnut cake. We'll go t

of Vivian's neck. There was a faint red ma

"Vivian, are you seeing someone? Why didn't yo

before she quickly covered it up. "Oh... we haven't known each other long. It's

d her eyes, and the last fragile th

vian would just t

instead of having to keep playing al

n making her the fo

the corner of her mouth, her s

t box back into Vivian's

raight into a

ent of cedar wa

and looked up in

ual lazy ease. But the moment he saw her, a flicker of p

oing here?" he asked,

ck sharply, avoi

reproach in her tone. "Julian, how could you

He really ha