Not The Second Time

year

today, the soft hum of the refrigerator the only noise in the background. The air smelled like fresh bread, a co

l showed it was already past four. Max would be calling soon, like he always did.

re was something

g it down with a bit more force. No point in thinking

thoughts. She wiped her hands on her apron before

m, trying to push the famili

mooth like honey. Rita could hear the smile in his t

e said, her voice tired but trying to sound upbeat. She wasn't sure why she ev

abe," he said. Rita could hear the concern in his voice, the same c

e couldn't see it. "I'll be fine. Just need

now how it is. You're always work

I? You know how

go out tonight? Dinner. Just the tw

al together. But she knew she was just going through the motions. Max was good to h

ally in it. She had tried. She really had. She had tried to m

ke you somewhere nice. We'll make it a fun nigh

't sure about this. Instead, she pushed the thought down. He

od," she s

e everything to me." Max's voice soft

felt anymore. She cared about him, yes. But love? Love was

ade her chest tighten. She

l in front of her, hearing the steady hum of the bakery's

k. Not because she did

hadn't for

if she was in love with him. She had been in love with Leo. She had loved him like she

o had left her with no word, no explanation. He just vanished

she had given up on h

lize something. She hadn't moved on. She hadn't stopped thinking

eavy. She knew w

said, her voice flat. She didn't wan

e was gentle, but there was something i

idn't say

the screen to disconnect the line before the wo

Her phone slipped from her hand and f

had done so much to move on, so much to survive. But in the quiet of the bakery, surrounded by the s

ill lo

id mothe

ven tried to reach out. He'd left her without a single word. He had promised her everyth

at was what

nyone else. And ma