Blurry Desires

lah'

rolling onto her side, but the movement only made the nausea worse. The scent of alcohol clung to her ski

all, the desk piled with books she hadn't touched in

now. The dark smudge on the sleeve, the faint ru

ning herself for injuries, but there were none. No cuts. No bruise

he had punched something- or someo

l had she do

it vibrated through the floor. The press of bodies, the

t recognize. A hand gripping her wri

ome. Didn't remember how the nigh

t clean hoodie she could find. Her phone sat on the nightstand, unread messages lighti

o's

the soft hum of conversation. Theo sat near the window, stirring his untouch

a few drinks and unwind after practice. But the moment he sa

between discomfort and something sharper-som

and lingered on her wrist even as she tried to pull away... He had moved without thinking. By

led, ready to fight. He barely managed to pull her away before things spiraled further... Now

ning the café until her gaze locked onto him. He set his coff

idn't

at happened

r. She looked exhausted, dark circles bene

ly don't

shes." A pause. Then, quieter

tightene

, relief flickering across he

almos

into fists, how she exhaled sharply like she was bracin

And if I hadn't stopped you,

m. The café noise faded, the

ut the chair across

e every

lah'

Delilah barely noticed it. Her pulse was too loud in h

rself to meet

something focused, deliberate about the way he carrie

party," she sa

cup. "I don't know his name. But I know his type." He met her eyes, voi

oat tig

," she admitted. "Jus

ou threw the first punch. He grabbed

nhale. "A

pression darkened. "Before

t a shiver do

ut she needed to know. "W

lf a second before answering. "His han

led her

y felt too tight,

forehead, trying to forc

, his voice softer now.

ut the weight in

remembered,"

ent. "Maybe forgetting is your

like protection. It felt like she h

traightened. "What

"I don't think he'll b

ay he said it sent a

't press

d knuckles. The proof that, even if she had forgo

ce waking up, somethin

said finally, l

his head. "

the corner of her lips despite everythin

rgue. But then he leaned back, a hin

if you tell me why you pu

parted in

ed. "Yeah.

haking her head. "That's

letting the conversation drift into something lighter. Delilah felt li