LOVE BEGUILED

and so tired, she wasn't prepared at all and these made her interviewers doubt if she was competent enough for the job. Her fever-clouded mind failed her at the wors

re painful than the last. She pushed the door open, dropped her bag and

angoes and freshly baked bread filled the air. Her nostrils w

, cartons of milk, and even snacks. Her favorite tin of ginger tea,

his" she thought, was it Sophie her friend?, but she would have told her if it was she, Ava stood in a confused yet happy mood in contemplation, just immediately, her eyes

ld be nice to restock for you. I noticed how busy you have been t

IN

wanted to make a good impression. Or perhaps he was tired of finding the kitchen barren and decided to take m

kitchen tool, overwhelmed

*****

leep, she fumbled for it on the nightstand, her finger

ed softly, her voi

ce on the other end sh

hun! I

best friend, her one and only true friend, had finally called. Ava had been trying to reach her on the phone, for months but to no avail. She was aware her f

ice calmer now, a mixture of reli

or saw each other. Sophie had been chasing a huge contract for months and immediately it clicked, She was on the go. The last time they saw each other, she had promised Ava to be with her, especially during her surgery. And she meant every word she said."But listen, I'm coming

g with gratitude. She was covered in excitement, and for

dging the argument. "I've already made the arra

s voice softened. "See you this w

er mind jingling. Sophie had always been her place of comfort, the one person she could lean on no matter how

ly, wiping the corner of her

s covered in sweet aroma, her stomach felt empty, then she remembered it's been a very long time she had a proper homemade meal. She swung into her

ophie's words from earlier wash over her. Despite the storm cloud han

light felt just

the door. Ava stood at the door watching him as he carried out his job diligently; she couldn't help but admire the