Only Mine

fee and the gentle buzz of conversation were meant to be calming, they appeared to accentuate my thoughts instead. Tryi

ill another reminder of the engagement announcement from my dad. I sighed, unable to help, but

the dark sky and consistent rain pattern reflected the uncertainty developing in my head. Was this exactly wha

eone aware she was the center of attention, Miranda looked, her heels clicked fiercely on the hardwood floor, each step resonating louder than it oug

tounded me. She was obviously up to something since

anda exclaimed, her voice dripping with a mix of sweetne

the abrupt knot of pain in my gut. "Miran

ean in close and "just a friendly chat," she suggested. Her voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper, as if she were divulging a secret meant espe

ecame the only thing I could concentrate on as the far-off murmur of othe

of?" Trying to keep m

heart accelerating as she went over her pictures. She stopped at last and pointed the screen toward me. Lookin

of Lysander and Miranda together felt like a kick to the gut. Is this possible? Was Miranda cor

red, my voice hardly a whisp

t now, maybe." Men like Lysander, though; they hardly ever change. Yo

doubt seeped in. Miranda's comments truly touched close since, deep down, I realized I didn't know Lysander. Though I had

inued, her voice bearing a finality that made my skin crawl. People seem to

rks. Her eyes fixed on mine; she set it on the table before me. "Just call me if you ever

t there, glancing at the card she left behind. My hands shook as I lifted it

who offend him sometimes find themselves in terrible, horrible, permanent circumstances. I would hate to see you turned into ano

ly a refuge, the café felt stifling. The rain outside had become a torrential downpour, and as

tered? Ahead were hazards? The rain hammered nonstop against the ground, reflecting the anarchy in m

inty, I kicked off my shoes and sloshed in the door. I inhaled deeply, then settled down at my desk, fixed on the engag

g in my head. The storm raging outside seemed to be a mirror image of the tempest deve