secrets and sacrifice

ys been good at

n she first ran. She'd told herself she'd leave her past behind and never look back. But now, as the sun began to dip below

dig into her until the day she died, and no matter

hat evening, the moment she locked the doo

was beatin

one with her thoughts. Too much time had pas

s honked, people shouted, and the world carried on as if noth

about the baby. Not e

d. He wasn't stupid. He had seen her act nervous around him, always distancing herself when he'd

ng different. He wasn't like the men s

ssa

hat came too easily. The cold, calculating stare. The arrogant smirk. The heav

his touch made

about the baby made her stomach t

this child. She didn't want him

pounded in her chest, the dread creeping up her spine. She approache

it be at

g to see someone she didn't want to s

d, his features soft, but his eyes held somet

"I thought I'd bring you something to eat. I kno

yone to see her like this. But she saw the genuine care in his e

side to let him in. The silence that foll

rate. He seemed to be giving her space, but she could tell he was trying to find

at her, his voice light but searching. "I just... I've not

t smile as she closed the door be

that. But if you ever want to talk

t realized she needed. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to b

was, she cou

go of. It wasn't something she could escape

and changed the subject

ic. "Well, I wasn't sure what you liked, but I grabbed some basics-fruit, veggie

eased a little, but there was still something in his eyes that

her to take

g time," she said softly, tryin

an do for a neighbor who's been so... reclusive." He shot her a teasing loo

how she was running, hiding, and living a life that wasn't hers. Her thoughts flashed back t

finally said, trying to

something about his presence, something calming. He was just a regular guy, living his life,

th her

e local bookstore, his usual banter that she found oddly comforting. But she remained

eb leaned back in his chair

an I ask yo

r a moment.

mean, really okay? I know you're going through something, but... I don't want to push y

omeone, especially him, made her feel weak. She wasn't weak. She ha

ern, made her falter. She couldn't let him in,

ly, standing up. "Just tir

nd. She couldn't. If she did, he might see too much-the

e quieter. "But you know where

or a moment longer, but when he saw that she wasn't go

ared. The shadows in the room seemed to press in on her, as though they were closing in on her, slowly suffo